Toni Dimaano Tech 12.05.2022 22:Dec PM EST

French Hospital Stops Operations, Transfers Patients Due To Ransomware Attack

A ransomware attack shuts down the Andre-Mignot Teaching Hospital in Paris, as its phone and computer systems were compromised on Saturday.

Following this event, the hospital complex has suspended medical operations, and ordered to transfer patients from the intensive care and neonatal units to other facilities, The Record reports.

The Cyberattack Left Critical Hospital Equipment Disconnected From Monitoring Networks

The Ministry of Health in France reveals that the Hospital Centre of Versailles, which is a complex where Andre-Mignot and another hospital and a retirement home is in, is currently without computer systems.

Because of this, three patients from the said hospital's ICU and three patients from the neonatal units were evacuated to another facility as Andre-Mignot is undergoing total reorganization.

Due to the ransomware attack, staff struggle to maintain care levels and keep outpatient services functional because several monitoring machines are no longer connected to a network, Infosecurity Magazine writes.

Currently, the 700-bed hospital can only accept walk-ins and consultations as it had to cancel operations due to the attack.

With this, the Ile-de-France Regional Health Agency (ARS) advises patients to reach out to their doctors or departments they were assigned to for a redirect to an available treatment unit.

The French Minister of Health and Prevention Francois Braun also condemns the attack, which he believes takes hostage the health of the French people.

Due to the situation, Braun adds that the Ministry of Health is exhausting all means possible to deploy solutions along with mobilized professions to ensure patients are taken care of.

Authorities Are Making Efforts To Keep The Public Safe After The Attack

Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Telecommunications, also says that Andre-Mignot immediately addressed the infected systems to limit the spread of the ransomware to other devices.

Bleeping Computer reports that the cyberattack is now under the investigation of the French National Authority for Security and Defense of Information Systems (AANSI).

AANSI and the Parisian Prosecutor's Office have also opened a preliminary investigation into the hacking and attempted extortion of state data after Andre-Mignot filed a complaint.

"To date, no other health facility in the region has been impacted by this cyberattack on which investigations are continuing by the National Authority for Security and Defense of Information Systems (ANSSI)," ARS claims.

While authorities are still trying to find what group or individual is behind the ransomware attack, Braun says that this is not the first time healthcare providers have been targeted by cyberattacks.

The Record notes that in August, the Center Hospitalier Sud Francilien also fell victim to a ransomware attack that took several weeks to recover from.

During this incident, sensitive personal information from staff and patients were posted on a hacking site, and the police named LockBit as the ransomware group behind it.

The Health Ministry of France and AANSI have not released more information or any related comment about the most recent incident involving Andre-Mignot yet, according to reports.

However, it is important to note that the healthcare system cyberattack follows the announcement that AANSI head Guillaume Poupard is leaving his post after almost 9 years of service.