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LockBit remorseful over cyberattack on children’s hospital

January 04, 2023

The criminal group LockBit, author of the ransomware of the same name, has splita rare mea culpa this weekend, following the paralysis of the largest pediatric hospital in Canada. Toronto-based The Hospital for Sick Children was hit Dec. 18 and found itself unable to access its critical systems. A situation that has wreaked havoc on patients and is not yet fully resolved, with the hospital having regained access to around 60% of its systems. Nothing really new so far.

But the specialized site Bleeping Computer reports that the criminals showed remorse, offering the hospital free software to decrypt its data. The group has questioned one of its affiliates, with whom the bridges would now be cut following this attack which would be against its values. As a reminder, LockBit indeed offers a ransomware-as-a-service service, i.e. it makes technical means available to affiliates who will then attack various targets, LockBit recovering 20% ​​of the amount ransoms as payment.

No honor among thieves

Where the rub is the fact that LockBit ransomware is frequently used against hospitals, especially in France. The idea that its code of ethics would prohibit causing a risk of death by attacking medical institutions therefore seems far-fetched. The South Ile-de-France Hospital Center (CHSF), a structure bringing together 27 health establishments in Essonne, was notably hit in the middle of August, and following its refusal to pay the ransom, the data of many patients had been disseminated on the Internet. .

The French government has since considered the issue, announcing in August an additional budget of 20 million euros to strengthen support for hospitals by the National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (Anssi), and launching at the end of December a “vast” cyberattack preparedness program for health establishments. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.

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