SickKids Hospital systems back up and running after ransomware attack | 24CA News

Health
Published 06.01.2023
SickKids Hospital systems back up and running after ransomware attack | 24CA News

The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto says most of its precedence programs are again after a ransomware assault affected its operations.

Dr. Ronald Cohn, president and CEO of SickChildren, stated in a launch Thursday that about 80 per cent of the hospital’s precedence programs have been restored.

He stated the cyberattack that started on Dec. 18 was handled comparatively rapidly with minimal disruptions to sufferers and
households.

On Saturday, LockBit, a ransomware group the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has referred to as one of many world’s most lively and damaging, issued a short apology and provided SickChildren a free decryptor to unlock its information. 

Cohn says the hospital didn’t use the decryptor, it has not paid any ransom and its expertise crew is working to revive the remaining programs.

Most groups not utilizing downtime procedures

He says sufferers and households are unlikely to expertise any important impacts to their care and many of the hospital’s
medical groups are not utilizing downtime procedures. 

“I am very thankful that we have been able to call the Code Grey All Clear relatively quickly with minimal disruptions to patients and families,” Cohn stated. 

“Without the extremely hard work of our staff and expertise of external advisers over the holidays, we would not have been able to lift the Code Grey as efficiently as we have. 

“I wish to categorical my deepest gratitude and because of our workers, sufferers, households and group companions for his or her persistence and assist, in addition to the broader group for the overwhelming provides of help and experience over the previous two weeks.” 

Arrest made in October for participation in group

Cohn stated the investigation into what occurred is ongoing. 

He stated the hospital referred to as the Code Grey when the cybersecurity assault was first found on Dec. 18 and initiated its plan to cope with it, together with consulting third-party cybersecurity consultants.

Cohn stated the hospital’s digital medical data weren’t affected.

LockBit has been linked to current cyberattacks on municipalities in Ontario and Quebec, consultants say, and a Russian-Canadian citizen was arrested in October for his alleged participation within the group.

U.S. officers allege the group has made not less than $100 million in ransom calls for and extracted tens of tens of millions from victims.