A cyber-attack on a significant IT supplier of the NHS has been confirmed as a ransomware attack.

HIGHLIGHTS
Ransomware hackers take control of IT systems, steal data and demand payment
Advanced claimed that it would take three to four weeks to completely recover
Ransomware hackers were sometimes financially motivated 

Advanced, that provides digital services like patient arrival and NHS 111, has claimed that it would take three to four weeks to completely recover.

The ransomware hackers would take control of IT systems, it would steal the data and demand a payment from victims to recover. The NHS insists that disruption would be minimal , but Advanced would not mention whether or not NHS data had been stolen. The Birmingham-based firm claimed that it initial noticed the hack at 07:00 BST on 4th August and immediately it has taken steps to contain the hackers. Therefore, it has been currently operating to revive the services.

The company has refused to mention whether it was in negotiations with hackers or paying a ransom to them. Well, in an exceedingly statement it has mentioned that 'We were reconstructing and restoring impacted systems in a separate and secure surroundings.'

An NHS England spokesperson has mentioned that 'while Advanced has confirmed that the incident had been impacting their software was ransomware, the NHS has tried and tested contingency plans in place which would include robust defences to safeguard our own networks, as we tend to work with the National Cyber Security Centre to completely perceive the impact.'

The public shall continue to use NHS services as normal, including NHS 111 for people who were unwell, although some individuals would have to face longer waits than usual. 

During the end of last week, family doctors in London were warned by NHS England they might see an enlarged number of patients sent to them by NHS 111 due to the 'significant technical issue.'

Products that were affected include Adastra, that was utilised by NHS 111 service, and Caresys and Carenotes, which would provide the backbone for care home services like patient notes and visitor booking. 

A spokesperson has mentioned that 'Ransomware was the key cyber-threat facing the UK and all organisations should take immediate steps in order to limit the risk by following our recommendation on a way to place in robust defences to safeguard their networks.'

Ransomware hackers were sometimes financially motivated and a part of massive, professionally run criminal gangs that would target on firms and demand hundred of thousands, sometimes millions, of pounds in ransom within the form of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Therefore, it was hard to trace where the gangs were primarily based, the analysis suggests that 74 percent of all money made through ransomware attacks in 2021 visited to Russia-linked hackers.

Also Read: Yanluowang Ransomware, decoded by Kaspersky, offers a free decryptor to recover files