An attempt by hostile actors to infiltrate the servers of Shamir Medical Center was thwarted on Yom Kippur, although concerns remain regarding whether patient data was accessed.
In a joint statement from the Health Ministry, the hospital, and the National Cyber Directorate, it was reported that the attempt was stopped at an early stage before any damage was caused to the computer systems. However, officials are checking the possibility that some information in the systems may have leaked into hostile hands.
The hospital emphasized that its clinical activity continued as usual, without any disruption to patient services.
Cyber attacks on Israeli hospitals
The healthcare system is treating such attacks with growing concern, given recent incidents. In the past, a severe ransomware attack struck Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera, significantly disrupting its activity for weeks. Staff had to switch to manual operations and distribute patients among nearby hospitals.
In September 2023, Kfar Shaul Eitanim Hospital was hit by a cyberattack in which part of its servers were encrypted.
Following the incident, the hospital disconnected all computers and systems to prevent the attack from spreading.
Teams from the Health Ministry and the National Cyber Directorate worked to contain the event, restore the systems, and assess the damage. An official statement at the time noted that clinical systems were not affected, and medical staff continued treatment manually without interruption.
In December 2023, another cyberattack targeted Ziv Medical Center in Safed. The hospital administration was forced to take defensive measures, including disconnecting systems and conducting in-depth checks, while some services operated under restrictions until restoration was complete. Here too, officials stressed that core services continued, though the incident highlighted the healthcare system’s exposure to recurring cyber threats.
These attacks on medical institutions demonstrate the potential to disrupt essential health services. In recent years, the Health Ministry, hospitals, health funds, and the National Cyber Directorate have been working to strengthen digital defenses in medical institutions. Measures include tighter access management, separation of critical networks, isolated backups, real-time monitoring, and training for clinical staff.