Ransomware attacked computers in 74 countries around globe

A cyberattack initially believed to be targeting only hospitals in the U.K. has now gone beyond, involving potentially dozens of countries.

As reported by Censor.NET citing CNN, more than 45,000 malicious computer attacks were reported in 74 countries in the past 10 hours.

The problem appeared to begin Friday morning when hospitals in the U.K. were crippled by a large-scale cyberattack, which forced operations to be canceled and ambulances to be diverted.

"We are aware that a number of NHS (National Health Service) organizations have reported they have suffered from a ransomware attack," PM Theresa May said speaking on the campaign trail in the U.K. "This is not targeted at the NHS. It is an international attack. A number of countries and organizations have been affected."

Spain's government said the ransomware attack has impacted Telefónica and other Spanish companies. An Interior Ministry statement says 85% of Telefónica computers have been affected. Telefónica is one of the largest private telecommunications companies in the world.

Spain's Ministry of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda confirms the intrusion, describing it as "punctual attacks."

Russian Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk confirmed that there was a ransomware attack on her agency's computers. She said less than 1% of computers were affected, and that the virus is now "localized."