Ukraine computers hit by data-wiping software as fears of full-scale Russian invasion rise

FILE PHOTO: Figurines with computers and smartphones are seen in front of the words "Cyber Attack", binary codes and the Ukrainian flag, in this illustration taken February 15, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

LONDON/KYIV (Reuters) -A newly discovered piece of destructive software found circulating in Ukraine has hit hundreds of computers, according to researchers at the cybersecurity firm ESET, part of what Ukrainian officials said was an intensifying wave of hacks aimed at the country.

In a series of statements posted to Twitter, the company said that the data wiping program had been "installed on hundreds of machines in the country," an attack it said had likely been in the works for the past couple of months.