Ireland's health services are in jeopardy.

Health Service Executive, the country's health service, has shut down its IT system in order to deal with a "significant" ransomware attack.

"We have taken the precaution of shutting down all our our IT systems in order to protect them from this attack and to allow us fully assess the situation with our own security partners," HSE Ireland said on Twitter.

Mashable Top StoriesStay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletterBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Thanks for signing up!

Tweet may have been deleted

According to the HSE, the National Ambulance Service is still operating normally.

---

Prime Day deals you can shop right now

Products available for purchase here through affiliate links are selected by our merchandising team. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

• Shark RV2310 Matrix Vacuum With Self-Cleaning Brushroll—$179.99(List Price $299.99)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet—$142.49(List Price $219.99)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case—$168.99(List Price $249.00)

• Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker With 6-Months Membership—$99.95(List Price $159.95)

• Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 41mm, Midnight, S/M, Sports Band)—$279.99(List Price $399.00)

---

Paul Reid, the chief executive of the HSE, said that the attackers were “an internationally operated criminal operation," the Irish Timesreported. No ransom demand has been made at this stage, he said.

Reid also clarified that equipment in hospitals wasn't affected by the hack, nor was the system for COVID-19 vaccinations; however, the system for radiological imaging has been impacted.

SEE ALSO:Colonial Pipeline turns fuel taps back on amidst ransomware mess

The attack follows a ransomware attack on U.S. pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline, causing a nationwide gas shortage. The company also had to shut down its IT systems following the attack. The episode ended with Colonial Pipeline paying hackers nearly $5 million in ransom, after which its systems have been restored.

TopicsCybersecurity