A group of hackers who had carried out a cyber attack on the Irish health service delivered the tools necessary to unlock the attacked data and systems free of charge, the government of Ireland said. The health service had been the victim of an attack called “ransomware”, conducted through a type of software that, once installed in a system, makes it inaccessible to its rightful owner via a cryptographic system. In order to access it again, the victim must pay the hackers a ransom.
The attack had been described as “catastrophic” and had blocked several computer systems, including the one that manages appointments in hospitals and clinics. The hackers had asked for $ 20 million to unlock the systems, but then decided to deliver the unlocking program for free, at least according to the government. It is not clear for now why they would do this. Micheál Martin, the Irish prime minister, said on Friday evening that a lot of work will still be needed to get the systems back to full operation.
However, the hackers continue to demand a ransom: during the attack they stole sensitive data and threatened to make it public or sell it if the Irish government does not pay it.
– Read also: The cyber blackmail industry, explained
