Cyber-attack set to escalate as working week begins, experts warn

Health and security chiefs have warned of possible fresh disruption from the global cyber-attack when workers switch on their computers for the first time at the start of the working week.

Europol, the pan-EU crime-fighting agency, said the threat was escalating and predicted the number of “ransomware” victims was likely to grow across the private and public sectors.

One in five NHS Trusts was hit by the “WannaCry” attack on Friday. Operations planned for Monday have been cancelled at several major hospitals, with patients facing disruption to their treatment because computers used to share patients’ test results and scans with doctors remain frozen.