How 100 hospitals switched to pen and paper to defeat a national cyber-attack
Summary
In February 2024, more than 100 hospitals in Romania were hit by a large cyber-attack affecting widely used medical software called Hippocrates. To stop the hackers and protect patients, hospitals were instructed to disconnect from the internet and switch to using pen and paper while experts worked to remove the ransomware called BackMyData.Key Facts
- The attack targeted hospitals’ computer networks through popular medical software.
- Romania’s national cyber-security center (DNSC) led the response and told hospitals to go offline.
- Over four days, hospitals operated without internet, relying on paper records and offline tools.
- Hippocrates software handles many hospital tasks, including admissions, lab tests, and pharmacy management.
- The ransomware scrambled files and demanded payment in bitcoin.
- 26 hospitals were confirmed infected before uninfected ones were safely brought back online.
- Doctors quickly adapted by creating alternative ways to track patients and results.
- Public communications were used to keep hospitals and citizens informed during the crisis.
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