Ransomware Attack On Ireland's Health Service

Ireland’s national health and social services provider, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has had its IT systems shut down and medical appointments cancelled after attempt to access data via IT systems following a ransomware hack. “There is a significant ransomware attack on the HSE IT systems. We have taken the precaution of shutting down all our our IT systems in order to protect them from this attack and to allow us fully assess the situation with our own security partners”, said HSE Ireland on Twitter.

The attack has affected national and local systems that provide core services, but not Covid-19 vaccinations or ambulance services. A number of hospitals in the Republic of Ireland are reporting disruption to services and a major  hospital Dublin was forced to cancel most of its outpatient appointments. 

An international cyber crime gang was behind the attack, Ireland's minister responsible for e-government said, describing it as possibly the most significant cyber crime attempt against the Irish state. 

However, HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid told Irish national broadcaster RTE that the country’s vaccination programme hadn’t been impacted by the cyber-attack "The vaccination programme continues thankfully, it's a separate system,” he said.

Reid described the attack as “very sophisticated” and “not just the standard attack... It is impacting all of our national and local systems that would be involved in all of our core services," he added. The perpetrator has not been named and HSE was not immediately available for comment.

The 2017 Wannacry attacks affected over 200,000 computer systems across the world, disrupted the services of one-third of the UK's hospital trusts, and approximately 8% of GP clinics. It's believed that around 19,000 hospital appointments were cancelled as a result. A subsequent investigation conducted by the UK Department of Health and Social Care found that the ransomware attack had cost the NHS around £90 million. Most of the cost was for putting its systems back working and to the recovery of data.

HSE Ireland:         Reuters:      Euronews:       Guardian:        BBC:       ITPro:  

You Might Also Read:

Healthcare Is The Prize Target For Cyber Criminals:

 

« Can Ethical AI Become A Reality?
Stop Taking Risks Online »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Gartner insights into How to Select the Right ZTNA offering. Download this FREE report for a limited time only.

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of completely automatic, fully encrypted online, cloud backup.

CDW

CDW

CDW delivers a comprehensive range of IT Solutions and Managed IT services to its customers, allowing them to focus on running their organisation, not managing their IT.

Packet Storm

Packet Storm

Packet Storm is an online resource for security tools, whitepapers, exploits, and advisories on computer security issues.

Center for Internet Security (CIS)

Center for Internet Security (CIS)

CIS is a nonprofit entity that harnesses the power of a global IT community to safeguard private and public organizations against cyber threats.

Nile Center for Technology Research (NCTR)

Nile Center for Technology Research (NCTR)

NCTR provides a whole spectrum of ICT solutions in cyber security, networks, communications, electronics, and enterprise software.

Zeguro

Zeguro

Zeguro provides complete cybersecurity risk assessment, mitigation and insurance, allowing you to easily manage your cyber risk.

Deep Mirror Automotive Cybersecurity

Deep Mirror Automotive Cybersecurity

Deep Mirror Automotive Cybersecurity make Cars & Infrastructures Cybersecure.

Marcus Donald People

Marcus Donald People

Marcus Donald People is a UK IT recruitment specialist covering the following sectors: Infrastructure & Cloud, Information Security, Development, Business transformation.

European Cyber Security Conference

European Cyber Security Conference

EU Cyber Security Conference will debate what Europe’s response to evolving threats in a dynamic global risk landscape should look like and what the next steps for all actors of the ecosystem.

Octane OC

Octane OC

OCTANe is building the SoCal of tomorrow. We drive innovation and growth by connecting people, resources and capital. Our Incubator focus is FinTech, Data Analytics and Cybersecurity.

Curricula

Curricula

Curricula's cyber security awareness training delivers short relatable security stories to your employees. We make learning cyber security simple and fun.

Pivot Point Security

Pivot Point Security

Pivot Point Security is a trusted leader in information security consulting. We help clients master their information security management systems.

Illuma Labs

Illuma Labs

Illuma Labs delivers real-time voice authentication and fraud prevention solutions.

AVANTEC

AVANTEC

AVANTEC is the leading Swiss provider of IT security solutions in the areas of cloud, content, network and endpoint security.

Cyber Griffin

Cyber Griffin

Founded by the City of London Police in 2017, Cyber Griffin is an initiative that supports businesses and individuals in the Square Mile to protect themselves from cyber crime.

Sikich

Sikich

Sikich LLP is a leading professional services firm specializing in accounting, advisory, technology and managed services.

Clarabot Nano

Clarabot Nano

Nano is the secure file sharing tool to improve content search, data access and collaboration between multiple parties.