Major Ransomware Attack Hits UK's NHS, Patient Data Exposed
A major cyberattack has struck the UK's National Health Service (NHS). The Russian ransomware gang Qilin has targeted Synnovis, a pathology service provider, demanding a hefty 40 million pounds in Bitcoin to prevent the leak of sensitive patient data.
The hackers, operating under the 'ransomware-as-a-service' model, have published 400 gigabytes of patient data, including birth dates and sensitive blood test results like those for HIV and cancer. This breach has affected hospitals in London's south and GP practices across the city, disrupting operations and rescheduling appointments.
The NHS is currently verifying the authenticity of the leaked data, a complex process that could take weeks. This attack follows a string of high-profile ransomware incidents in the healthcare sector. In 2023, a German healthcare provider fell victim to a severe attack, and earlier this year, the US's Change Healthcare paid 22 million dollars to the ALPHV ('BlackCat') group after a successful ransomware strike. Healthcare providers are attractive targets due to their often outdated computer infrastructure and the high ransoms that can be extracted.
The Qilin attack on Synnovis has been deemed a major incident, significantly impacting various services, particularly blood transfusions. As the NHS works to verify the leaked data and restore services, healthcare providers worldwide remain on high alert against the growing threat of ransomware attacks.
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