Dublin:
Ireland’s well being authority stated Friday it had shut down its personal computer systems immediately after experiencing a “significant ransomware attack”.
“We have taken the precaution of shutting down all our IT systems in order to protect them from this attack and to allow us (to) fully assess the situation with our own security partners,” the Health Service Executive stated on Twitter.
“We apologise for inconvenience caused to patients and to the public and will give further information as it becomes available,” it added, stressing Ireland’s coronavirus vaccination programme was unaffected and “going ahead as planned”.
Another ransomware attack last Friday forced the shutdown of the United States’ biggest fuel pipeline network, major to some panic getting at gasoline stations along the east coast.
Moscow has rejected US accusations that a Russia-based group was behind the cyber attack.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid told state broadcaster RTE the attack was “quite a significant one”, and the body was working with its big IT safety providers.
“We are at the very early stages of fully understanding the threat,” he stated, adding it was attempting to “contain” the problem.
The Rotunda maternity hospital in Dublin stated all outpatient visits have been cancelled other than for females who have been at least 36 weeks pregnant “due to a serious IT issue”.
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