Medical device manufacturer affected by major cyberattack

On Wednesday March 11, medical device manufacturer Stryker reported in a LinkedIn post that it had been subject to a cyberattack.

“Stryker is experiencing a global network disruption to our Microsoft environment as a result of a cyber attack,” the company announced. “We have no indication of ransomware or malware and believe the incident is contained.”

It’s unclear how the attack was carried out, but a hacking group with ties to Iran has since claimed responsibility. In posts on the social media platforms Telegram and X, the Handala Team stated it launched the attach in retaliation for a U.S. missile strike on an elementary school in Iran that killed at least 168 children according to Iranian state media. The incident is currently under investigation by the Pentagon.

Stryker staff and contractors reported that remote devices such as laptops and cellphones running Microsoft Windows and connected to Stryker’s technology systems had been wiped and the Handala Team’s logo appeared on login pages. Stryker has assured that its medtech product lines, such as Mako, Vocera, and LIFEPAK35, have not been affected and are fully safe to use.

“We have visibility to the orders entered before the event, and they will be shipped as soon as our system communications are restored,” Stryker added in a post on its website. “Any orders that have come in after the event are being examined. We are working to ensure our electronic ordering system is back up and running as quickly as possible.”