Ireland’s health service hit by ‘significant ransomware attack’

Ireland’s health service IT system has been shut down as a precautionary measure following a cyber attack believed to be carried out by international criminals attempting to extort money. The attack has disrupted health and social care services, resulting in delays and cancellations. Hospitals are temporarily relying on paper-based systems and unable to access electronic records. This is the latest in a series of cyber attacks targeting healthcare organizations during the pandemic. Ransomware is a double-extortion threat that allows attackers to encrypt data and leak it if a ransom is not paid.