Ransomware attack takes down health system network in Micronesia

One of many 4 states that make up the Pacific nation of Micronesia is battling in opposition to ransomware hackers who’ve compelled all the computer systems utilized by its authorities well being company offline.

On Wednesday, the Division of Well being Providers for the state of Yap warned the island’s 12,000 residents {that a} ransomware assault hit its methods on March 11. 

“In response, the entire community was taken offline. Because of this, the Division now doesn’t have web connectivity, and all computer systems are returned off to stop additional injury,” officers mentioned in a message on social media.  

The division is working with personal IT contractors and different authorities companies to get providers again on-line, decide the extent of the infiltration and work out what knowledge has been breached.

“E mail communication by the well being servers and all digital well being methods are shut down,” the division mentioned in its assertion. “The Division reassured the general public that providers are persevering with however requested in your endurance and understanding because the providers will likely be slower than earlier than because of the disruptions.”

Micronesia has a complete inhabitants of greater than 100,000 individuals unfold throughout the states of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae — which comprise greater than 600 islands. 

The island of Yap is north of Palau and south of Guam — each of which have drawn headlines in current months for important cyberattacks and ransomware incidents that impacted authorities providers. Palau’s well being ministry introduced a ransomware assault simply two weeks in the past.

No hacking group has taken credit score for the assault on Yap as of Thursday. Micronesia can be the newest of a number of Pacific islands impacted by ransomware, together with Vanuatu, Tonga and the Philippines. 

Ransomware assaults proceed to impression authorities companies globally, with teams particularly concentrating on smaller governments that usually lack the assets to defend sprawling networks. 

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