Breaking News: Cyber Criminals Target London Hospitals in Massive Data Breach
A gang of cyber criminals has caused chaos in multiple London hospitals by releasing sensitive patient data stolen from an NHS pathology testing provider. Overnight, Qilin shared nearly 400GB of private information on their darknet site, after attempting to extort money from NHS provider Synnovis following a hack on June 3.
The cyber security expert has called this attack one of the most harmful in the UK, with patient names, birth dates, NHS numbers, and blood test descriptions among the exposed data. The hack has disrupted over 3,000 hospital and GP appointments and operations, including affecting a teenager undergoing cancer treatment.
The gang threatened to publish the data unless payment was made, leading to the release of business account spreadsheets detailing financial arrangements. While NHS England is working to verify the authenticity of the shared data, Synnovis is conducting an analysis to address the situation.
Ransomware hackers infiltrated the company's systems, encrypting vital information and downloading private data for extortion. Despite the demand for a ransom payment in Bitcoin, the hackers published the data, indicating Synnovis did not comply. Law enforcement agencies advise against paying ransoms, as it only fuels criminal activities.
Healthcare organizations are increasingly targeted by ransomware due to the potential for significant harm and financial gain. The hackers claimed to have targeted Synnovis in retaliation for the UK's lack of support in an unspecified war, a claim dismissed as purely financial by experts.
As cyber attacks become more common, the need for resilient systems capable of withstanding multiple shocks is crucial. This incident serves as a reminder of the growing threat posed by cyber criminals and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting sensitive data and patient care.