Toronto hospital working to restore systems after being struck by cyber attack
Humber River Hospital says it is still working to restore its IT systems more than 24 hours after being struck by a ransomware attack.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, the hospital acknowledged that its systems were struck by a new malware attack at around 2 a.m. on June 14 and that it has been operating under a “Code Grey,” which is declared when the hospital is dealing with a loss of essential services, since then.
The hospital, located near Wilson Avenue and Keele Street, said the threat was discovered almost immediately and its 5,000 computers – including those that manage patient records – were shut down in order to protect them.
Ransomware usually functions by encrypting files on target computers so that the information cannot be accessed by its rightful owners and then demanding a ransom to de-encrypt the information.
While the system shutdown prevented most computers from being encrypted, some files were corrupted, the hospital said.
“The IT department has been working with an external recovery firm who are assisting by being in the facility and online with the recovery planning,” the hospital said in its statement.
Each of the hospital’s computers is being restarted manually and fixed with a patch developed by cyber security firm Symantec.
“We will bring systems back online in a staggered approach over the next 48 hours. It is important to know that no confidential information was released,” the hospital said.
The cyber attack forced the closure of a number of clinics today. Surgeries are continuing as planned and the emergency department is still open but functioning on ambulance redirect.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.