In a concerning development, the Ministry of Health and the National Cyber System jointly announced yesterday that Kfar Shaul Eitanim Hospital had fallen prey to a cyber attack. This attack resulted in the disruption of a small portion of the hospital's computer servers. In response, an immediate decision was made to disconnect all computers and systems within the hospital as a proactive measure aimed at preventing the spread of this cyber assault. Simultaneously, teams from the Ministry of Health and the National Cyber System swung into action, working diligently to contain the incident, restore the compromised systems, and assess the extent of the damage.
The official statement issued following the attack emphasized that no damage to clinical systems had been detected. Furthermore, it assured the public that medical teams had swiftly transitioned to manual procedures and were continuing to provide essential treatment to patients.
This is the second instance in a span of approximately one month where an Israeli hospital has fallen victim to a cyber attack. In early August, Ma'eini Hayeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak suffered a similar fate at the hands of a group of hackers who go by the name "Ragnar Locker." The aftermath of this attack raised concerns about the potential leakage of sensitive medical information. Subsequently, the hackers made good on their threats and disseminated information gleaned from the hospital.
ืืื ืืืงืฆืืืช ืจืืฉืื ืืช ืืจืืืช ืื ืืชืงืคืช ืืกืืืืจ ืขื ืืื"ื ืืคืจ ืฉืืื-ืืืชื ืื ืื ืืชืืฆืขื ืขื ืืื ืืืชื ืงืืืฆื ืฉืืืืื ืืืขืจืืืช ืืืืืฉืื ืืืื"ื ืืขืืื ื ืืืฉืืขื. ื"ืจ ืืื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืืจืื ืืจืคืืื, ืืขืืื ืฉืื ืืืชืจื ืคืืืขืืช ืขื ืื ืืืขืจืืืช ืืงืืื ืืืช pic.twitter.com/7P3AUuII2d
โ ืืืืจ ืืจืฆืืื ื Meir Marciano (@Meir_Marciano) September 19, 2023
This alarming pattern of cyber threats and attacks targeting the Israeli healthcare sector is not isolated. Recent data, published by several Israeli newspapers last month, revealed that the health sector in Israel experienced an average of 810 cyber attacks every week in the last quarter. This sector has consistently been one of the primary targets of cyber attacks within the country. This trend mirrors the global scenario, where healthcare systems have become prime targets for malicious hackers. The explanation for this phenomenon lies in the fact that healthcare institutions store vast amounts of critical and sensitive data, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.
There has been an alarming uptick of around 30 percent in the number of weekly cyber attacks specifically directed at healthcare organizations. The United States, for instance, faces a similar predicament, with hospitals and clinics across the country falling prey to cyber attacks on a regular basis. These attacks have resulted in the theft or compromise of millions of pieces of medical data. In light of these escalating cyber threats, the Israeli government and the Ministry of Health have been holding regular consultations, collaborating closely with the Ministry of Defense to identify hackers and implement robust measures aimed at preventing future, potentially more devastating attacks.
Las Vegas has been under a MASSIVE cyber attack all week.
โ BRO๐ (@luke_brocks) September 14, 2023
People canโt access rooms, machines in the Casinos are cash only, and all computerized transactions are down.
MGM is losing $350+ million a day due to the hack.
And it gets worseโฆ pic.twitter.com/iJxXAfmtgL
The recent cyber attacks on Israeli hospitals underscore the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures within the healthcare sector. As cyber threats continue to evolve and intensify, it is imperative for healthcare institutions to invest in cutting-edge cybersecurity protocols to safeguard sensitive patient information and ensure uninterrupted medical services.
