Massive Cyber Attack Halted, Experts Fear Copycats
WHITFIELD: We're getting new information on that massive cyber attack that has hit users in nearly a 100 countries. Cyber experts tells CNN the spread of the malware called "wannacry" has been halted at least for now. And here's what we know. A cyber security firm says there have been more than 75,000 ransomware attacks. Key institutions like hospitals and government offices have been affected. Let me bring in now CNN Technology Correspondent Samuel Burke. So Samuel what did this malware do exactly? What was it, I guess requiring or threatening to users?</s>SAMUEL BURKE, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: This was completely different than the hacks that we usually talk about. Passwords being stolen or credit card numbers being stolen. This is ransomware that takes over people's computers and literally is demanding a fee, $300 in Bitcoin for you to get access to your files again. The other way that this is different Fredricka is actually affecting people's lives because we had hospitals that you were mentioning that had been hit and so they were having to cancel outpatient appointments for instance. Now, the interesting thing here is a security researcher has actually inadvertently or accidentally you could say stopped the spread of this virus. But we're not out of the woods yet because if you're computer was already infected, you might show up at work on Monday and see one of these messages demanding the $300 in Bitcoin and a lot of researchers are very afraid that there could be plenty of copycats out there and other strains of this virus.</s>WHITFIELD: And so this use of the Bitcoin, you know, currency, that's what makes if so difficult right to really hunt down the villains here.</s>BURKE: It makes it very difficult to trace where the money is going, where it is even coming from and that is why they're choosing to use Bitcoin. And it's interesting because the experts aren't pointing their fingers at anybody yet. But I just want to bring back that map that you showed at the beginning of this segment because if you look at it, it shows that there are infections all around the world. Nobody should assume that the Russians or the Chinese are to blame here. The places that have been worst affected according to that are Taiwan, Ukraine, and Russia. So Russia one of the biggest victims here likely according to many sources a group of cyber criminals really just looking for money, not a state or a government.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, Samuel Burke, thanks so much. All right, Donald Trump's firing of James Comey had Washington spinning this week. But what about the rest of the country? We check in on how his supporters outside the beltway took the news, next.</s>CAROL SOSSAMAN, BUSINESS OWNER: You know, but after a couple years if nothing gets done and it's drama all the time, then I don't think he'll have many supporters left.</s>WHITFIELD: Welcome back. We're learning four people are being interviewed for the FBI director job today. This morning the president seemed very optimistic that he will find the next director soon.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think you might make a decision or announcement before you leave?</s>DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These are outstanding people that are very well-known. Highest level. So we could make a fast decision.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Before the trip next week?</s>TRUMP: Even that is possible.</s>WHITFIELD: A source tells CNN the four candidates being interviewed for the job are Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, Andrew McCabe, the current acting FBI director, Alice Fisher, assistant attorney general under President George W. Bush, and Judge Michael Garcia of the New York Court of Appeals. But do Trump supporters back the president on his dramatic firing of James Comey? Here now is Ed Lavandera.</s>ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): They get (inaudible) so well.</s>HENRY LEWIS, BUSINESS OWNER: (Inaudible), this is Texas county.</s>LAVANDERA (on camera): For more than 50 years, Henry Lewis has sold Chevy cars and trucks in Canton, Texas. (on camera) You wrote this book for your grand kids?</s>LEWIS: Yes.</s>LAVANDERA (on camera): This is full of life lessons, right. (voice-over) But in his spare time, he wrote a book with short life lessons for his granddaughter and he says page 10 can help explain a lot these days especially Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey.</s>TRUMP: He's a showboat, a grand stander.</s>LEWIS: If your presentation is on a sixth grade level, it will be understood, read, listened to and appreciated. That's kind of fitting.</s>LAVANDER (voice-over): Do you think Donald Trump has mastered that?</s>LEWIS: I think Donald Trump would agree with that statement. You know, we may make him a book.</s>LAVANDERA (voice-over): Lewis still strongly supports Trump. He's not bothered by the president's tweets seeming to threaten Comey. But Lewis acknowledges some of Trump's antics are starting to wear thin.</s>LEWIS: It bothers me a little bit. I mean, I think he'd be better served if he were more presidential, if you take the high road and more presidential.</s>LAVANDERA (on camera): But your faith in him is still solid?</s>LEWIS: Yes, it's great. He's a businessman and that's what the country needs and I voted for him and I'd vote for him again.</s>LAVANDERA (on camera): Canton, Texas sits in the heart of Van Zandt County, the antique shopping capital of the world, where Donald Trump won 85 percent of the vote. As we wondered around town, we found support still runs strong. Carol Sossaman runs her own antique shop and this exchange with her offered unique insight to why Trump's most ardent supporters haven't lost faith. (on camera) But with all the crazy headlines we've seen here over the last few months, if you replaced the name Trump and you put in Hillary or Obama, do you think his supporters would have the same reaction, kind of dismiss things like the Russia investigation, questions about taxes?</s>SOSSAMAN: No, no. Because there's so much hope with Trump being in office. I think that is what drives people to believe in him. Because he's a businessman. He gets stuff done. You know, that is a proven fact.</s>LAVANDERA (voice-over): Sossaman voted for President Obama in 2008, didn't vote in 2012, and then voted for Trump. She says the clock is ticking and that Trump supporters can handle the drama as long as work gets done on issue like health care. Is that a sign there is a crack in Trump's armor?</s>SOSSAMAN: You know, but after a couple years if nothing gets done and it's drama all the time, then I don't think he'll have many supporters left.</s>LAVANDERA (voice-over): Donald Trump's act might not seem presidential to even some of his supporters, but in the antique shops of this east Texas town, the act hasn't gotten old, yet. Ed Lavandera, CNN, Van Zandt County, Texas.</s>WHITFIELD: Up next, as the White House electronics ban at airport looms, the airlines are scrambling to iron out the new protocols. Details next.