The cyber-criminals responsible for causing major disruption at London hospitals say they are “sorry” for all the harm caused but are “not to blame”.
The ransomware gang spoke to the BBC on encrypted chat service qTox attempting to justify the attack as a form of political protest.
Qilin, which has a well established record of attempting to extort money, claims in this instance it carried out a cyber-attack as revenge for the UK government’s actions in an undisclosed war.
Experts are sceptical, however, with Jen Ellis, from the organisation Ransomware Task Force, telling the BBC that “cyber-criminals like this gang lie routinely.”
“Where they are from and why they have carried out the attack is secondary to the harm being caused right now to patients and hospital staff,” she added.
The hack has led to more than 1,000 operations and appointments being postponed and a critical incident being declared. “Yes we know about the situation,” the hackers said, speaking in broken English.
“We are very sorry for the people who were suffered because of it. Herewith we don’t consider ourselves guilty and we ask you don’t blame us in this situation.”
The hackers said the UK government should be blamed as they were not helping in the unspecified war.
– BBC
