Ireland’s health service said it was under a ransomware attack on Friday that forced it to shut down its computer systems.
A ransomware attack locks users out of their computer systems until they pay a fee to the intruder.
There were few details, but the attack was described as significant by Ireland’s Health Service Executive.
Motorists line up for fuel at one of the few remaining gas stations that still has fuel in Arlington, Virgina, on May 13, 2021. AFPBiden says oil pipeline back in operation after cyber attack
It said it was shutting down all its IT systems to protect them from the attack while it consulted security partners.
Covid-19 vaccinations would still go ahead as planned, the agency said.
“We apologise for inconvenience caused to patients and to the public and will give further information as it becomes available,” the health service said.
A similar attack hit Britain’s National Health Service in 2017 and was blamed on North Korea.
Health services were disrupted by the WannaCry software, which affected more than a third of England’s NHS trusts.
A report found that no NHS organisation had paid the ransom, but the attack could have been avoided by following IT security best practice.
Last week, a ransomware attack shut down an oil pipeline in the US, leading to fuel shortages across eastern states for almost a week.
