HSE HACKERS CUT CONTACT AFTER 3 WEEKS
Court order upheld after link ‘deliberately’ axed
HACKERS who attacked the HSE IT system and planted a ransomware note on it cut off contact, the High Court heard yesterday.
Judge Senan Allen was told it is believed the link through which the hackers communicated was disabled by the second week in June and they “deliberately locked themselves out”.
The hackers in their ransomware note on May 14 stated they could be contacted via an electronic link provided.
But a copy of the order of the High Court by Mr Justice Kevin Cross was successfully uploaded on to the hackers IT link.
It prevented them from selling, processing, publishing, sharing or making available to any member of the public, the stolen HSE data, which included patients’ private medical data.
The orders also require the “persons unknown” to identify themselves by providing names, postal addresses and email addresses.
The orders were sought in intended proceedings by the HSE which include claims for damages for breach of confidential information, fraud and deceit, conspiracy and conversion of the data which is believed to have been accessed by hackers based in Russia.
The intended defendants had 42 days to enter an appearance to the proceedings, after which the matter would return before the court.
When the matter came back before court yesterday, Jonathan Newman SC said the hackers declined to identify themselves. He said: “Communication has been cut off.”
The court heard after the order was made by Mr Justice Cross last May a copy was successfully served and uploaded to the link but on June 11 the
link was no longer accepting uploads. Attempts were made the next day but it is believed that the link was disabled.
Counsel said it was the only way of communicating with the hackers and it was not possible to serve a notice of motion on them relation to the case coming back before the court.
He said: “They have excluded themselves from being further communicated with.”
Ruling to keep the May order in place, Mr Justice Allen said: “They know from the order served they can apply to the court for a discharge of the order. The order of Judge Cross will continue.”
He adjourned the interlocutory motion generally with costs reserved.