Gardai says none of stolen HSE data published online; social media companies agreed to remove data as soon as it hits online
DUBLIN: Restoration of IT systems and data and investigation into HSE cyber-attack are in progress. Garda confirms that there is no indication that any stolen data from the HSE computer system was published online, but the government does not rule out the possibility.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the government had contacted social media companies to prevent the data from being published and that they had promised to remove it as soon as it was published. The criminal gang threatened to publish the data online last week.
The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre, IT experts, and international law enforcement agencies, is monitoring the “darknet” and other underground online networks commonly used by cybercriminals. However, the HSE data does not appear to have been published yet.
Garda believes that messages threatening the release of such data received by some people are “opportunistic.” Garda also says that it is not from criminals who have access to the stolen data.
The hackers, who are believed to be Russian cybercrime groups, have been keeping sensitive information for more than ten days. Thousands of appointments have been canceled as a result of the cyber-attack.
Gardai advises
Gardai advised people who think they are victims of HSE-related cyber-attack to report to their local Garda station. They have also warned people not to engage with cyber criminals or provide any personal information, including bank account details.
Ireland’s cyber-attack is not an isolated incident – Taoiseach
The Taoiseach said that the cyber-attack in Ireland was not an isolated incident, and that similar attacks had happened earlier in Poland and the UK. “We would have regular collaboration with international partners and expertise as well,” he said.
Mr. Martin said the situation is being monitored very closely. “If anyone has any suspicions, if anybody comes across any data, if you see it don’t share it. Report it, that’s the simple message we have – report it to the gardaí,” he said.
The Taoiseach said that progress has been made in restoring services and the decryption key is helping. The budget for national cyber security has been increased, but “we need to do more”, he added.
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