Boeing Downplays Apparent WannaCry Network Cyberattack

Boeing downplayed an apparent cyberattack launched on its computer network Wednesday after an initial claim the WannaCry virus was spreading through the company's servers.

According to The Seattle Times, Boeing engineer Mike VanderWel sent out a memo earlier Wednesday asking for help because of the cyberattack.

He asked for "all hands on deck," and said the virus was "metastasizing rapidly out of North Charleston and I just heard 777 (automated spar assembly tools) may have gone down."

VanderWel also speculated the virus could "spread to airplane software. . . . We are on a call with just about every VP in Boeing."

Shortly after 7 p.m. ET, however, Boeing posted a brief statement to its Twitter account regarding the cyber intrusion.

The WannaCry virus struck more than 150 countries in a massive outbreak last year. The ransomware, which is believed to be tied to North Korea, locks out a user's computer until a ransom is paid either in Bitcoin or traditional currency.

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