Hospitals switched to pen and paper to defeat a national cyber-attack
4 hours ago
- #healthcare
- #ransomware
- #cyber-security
- In February 2024, a ransomware attack using BackMyData targeted over 100 Romanian hospitals via the Hippocrates medical software, forcing a shutdown of internet-connected systems.
- Hospitals were ordered to disconnect from the internet, leading staff to use pen and paper and offline tools like Excel to maintain patient care, with no reported deaths or serious harm.
- Cyber-experts worked with software makers to contain the attack, finding 26 hospitals infected; most were restored within five days using backups, though some data was lost permanently.
- Authorities refused to pay a €160,000 ransom and used media to communicate with the public, advising against hospital visits unless necessary and warning against contacting hackers.
- The incident highlights healthcare as a prime target for cyber-attacks globally, with similar cases in the UK and US showing risks like patient deaths and widespread disruption.