UK BLAMES RUSSIA FOR CYBERATTACK

LONDON : Britain blamed Russia on Thursday for a cyberattack last year, publicly pointing a finger at Moscow for spreading a virus-

Which disrupted companies across Europe including UK-based Reckitt-Benckiser.

The so-called NotPetya attack in June started in Ukraine where it crippled government and business computers before spreading around the world, halting operations at ports, factories and offices.

Britain's foreign ministry said the attack originated from the Russian Military .
''The decision to publicly attribute this incident underlines the fact that the UK and its allies will not tolerate malicious cyber activity,'' the ministry said in a statement.

''The attack masqueraded as a criminal enterprise but its purpose was, was principally to disrupt,'' it said.

Primary targets were  Ukrainian financial, energy an government sectors. Its  indiscriminate design caused it to spread further, effecting other European and Russian business.''

Moscow has previously denied being behind the NotPetya attack.

Reckitt, a consumer goods maker, as well as Danish shipping company AP Moller-Maersk S/A, were amongst those affected with the total cost of the attack running into hundreds and millions of pounds.

[Agencies].