A new variant of the WannaCry ransomware attack Attack.Ransom surfaced on Monday , according to cyber security firm Check Point Software , which it said it had stopped from damaging computers by activating a `` kill switch '' in the software . The company discovered the new variant at about 7am New York time on Monday , as it was infecting computers at a rate of about one per second , said Check Point researcher Maya Horowitz . The firm responded by setting up a server that initiated what is called a kill switch built into the software , which prevents it from encrypting data on infected machines or spreading to other computers , she said . Ransomware is illicit software that demands a "ransom" Attack.Ransom from an infected user to regain control of their computer .