The University Hospital Centre Zagreb (KBC Zagreb) in Croatia is currently dealing with a significant cyberattack that began on Wednesday night, disrupting its information system. This attack has prompted the hospital to shut down parts of its online operations until they can ensure the system’s safety. Despite the disruption, essential services like emergency care and medical laboratories remain operational, although patient processing has slowed due to the inability to print medical reports, requiring manual documentation instead. Hospital officials have assured the public that patient information has not been compromised, though investigations are ongoing to confirm this initial assessment.
The incident comes amidst a wave of cyberattacks affecting Croatian institutions, including government and financial entities, recently targeted by the NoName057(16) hacker group. These distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks temporarily crippled several websites, although services have since been restored. The motive behind these attacks, whether for ransom or disruption, remains unclear, raising concerns about cybersecurity preparedness in Croatia amid geopolitical tensions.
Vlatko Košturjak, CTO of Croatian cybersecurity firm Diverto, notes an uptick in DDoS attacks on Croatian infrastructure, underscoring the ongoing threat and the need for robust defenses. He emphasizes the evolving nature of DDoS techniques and the importance of proactive security measures to mitigate such risks effectively. As investigations into the hospital cyberattack continue, authorities and cybersecurity experts are working diligently to restore normal operations and strengthen defenses against future threats.
