Iranian hackers targeted Boston Children’s Hospital network

Boston Children’s Hospital’s IT system missed “one of the most despicable cyberattacks” ever seen thanks to the “quick action” of the FBI, FBI officials reported.

Officials received a tip from another intelligence agency last August that the children’s hospital was “about to be targeted” and effectively blocked the cyberattack, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said on June 1:

In the summer of 2021, hackers sponsored by the Iranian government tried to conduct one of the most despicable cyberattacks I’ve ever seen right here in Boston when they decided to go after Boston Children’s Hospital. Let me just say that again: Boston Children’s Hospital.

Quick actions by everyone involved, especially at the hospital, protected both the network and the sick kids who depend on it.

It wasn’t the first time Boston Children’s has faced hacker attacks, with attempted infiltrations of the hospital’s network being waged in both 2014 and 2019. Wray said following the latest incident, the bureau met with the hospital seven times over 10 days to address the threat and help them plan for and protect themselves from future attacks:

Children’s and our Boston office already knew each other well — before the attack from Iran — and that made a difference.

The other day, a Turkey-based low-cost airline Pegasus Airlines exposed Electronic Flight Bag data to the public including sensitive information such as source code, crew and staff data, and flight details.