Cyberattack Forces Romanian Hospitals Offline

A major cyberattack struck Romania’s healthcare system in February 2024, causing widespread disruption across hospitals that relied on a popular medical software platform. As reports of infected networks began pouring in, officials at Romania’s national cyber-security centre (DNSC) realized the attack was spreading rapidly and threatening critical healthcare services. The incident raised concerns about patient safety as hospitals struggled to access important digital systems.

In response, DNSC Chief Dan Cimpean ordered more than 100 hospitals to disconnect from the internet in an effort to contain the attack. The ransomware campaign encrypted files and disrupted access to medical records and other essential hospital operations. While some hospitals were directly affected, many others took precautionary measures to prevent the malware from spreading further through their networks.

The attack highlighted the growing threat cybercriminals pose to healthcare systems worldwide. Hospitals are increasingly targeted because they depend heavily on digital infrastructure to provide patient care. Security experts warn that such incidents are becoming more frequent and can have serious consequences, including treatment delays and disruptions to critical medical services.