Stryker targeted in Iran-linked cyberattack retaliation against US medical sector

US Medical Device Company Stryker Hit with Global Cyberattack

A major cyberattack has affected the global networks of Stryker, a leading medical device company, according to reports. The attack is attributed to an Iran-linked hacking group, which claims responsibility and warns that it marks the beginning of a new chapter in cyber warfare.

The group, identified as Handala, says the attack was carried out in retaliation for the killing of over 170 people, mostly schoolgirls, in a strike on a school in Minab, Iran. The incident occurred during the US-Israeli military conflict against Iran.

According to satellite imagery, an investigation by Al Jazeera’s Digital Investigations Unit found that the school may have been deliberately targeted. Six senior Democratic senators in the United States have called for an investigation into the strike, expressing their concern over the incident.

The hacking group claims to have seized 50 terabytes of Stryker data, which it says is now in the hands of the public. The company reported a global network disruption to its Microsoft environment, affecting Windows-based devices, including laptops and mobile phones connected to its systems. However, Stryker stated that no evidence of ransomware or malware was found, and the incident appears to be contained.

Staff at Stryker’s headquarters in Michigan reported seeing Handala’s logo on company login pages. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity agency have not commented on the incident.

Stryker, which generates over $25 billion in revenue annually, provides medical devices to more than 150 million patients across 61 countries. A separate attack was also claimed by the same hacking group against payments company Verifone, which denied any disruption to its services.

The incident comes as tensions between Iran and Western countries escalate, with Iran warning of attacks on economic targets in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera