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A healthcare recruitment platform operated by an Irish company, which serves health trusts in Northern Ireland, has fallen victim to a cyber attack. Hackers claim to have accessed and stolen hundreds of thousands of sensitive files containing personal information from the Healthdaq platform. In response, all health trusts involved have acknowledged a “potential” cyber incident related to a third-party Health and Social Care supplier and have urged their staff to remain particularly cautious.
According to an email from Healthdaq’s data protection officer, which was seen by BBC News NI, the breach was identified on 30 March. The company has since contained the issue and implemented measures to secure its platform. Healthdaq manages recruitment for healthcare services and holds detailed information on staff, including personal data, identity verification details, and background checks. The email described the incident as a confidentiality breach involving unauthorized access and data extraction.
The compromised data reportedly includes names, contact information, CVs, professional qualifications, and copies of passports or other government-issued identification. In some cases, health information may also have been exposed. Healthdaq warned that the nature of the compromised information carries risks such as identity theft, fraud, and the misuse of personal data. Meanwhile, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) confirmed receipt of a report from Healthdaq Limited and is currently reviewing the details.
The hacking group XP95 has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they have obtained close to half a million files containing various sensitive documents, including driving licenses, criminal background checks, and vaccine records. XP95 is reportedly demanding a ransom in exchange for the stolen data. Healthdaq, headquartered in Dublin with offices in Belfast, Melbourne, and Toronto, collaborates with various government and public health bodies worldwide, including organizations in Canada, Australia, the Middle East, and the NHS in England.
Professor Kevin Curran, a cybersecurity expert at Ulster University, commented on the nature of hackers’ claims. He noted that while cybercriminals may lie or exaggerate the extent of data theft for financial gain, more established hacking groups rely heavily on maintaining a reputation. “They would do anything for money,” he said, “but there is a kind of a sense of reputability, people wouldn’t waste their time if they didn’t believe the groups leaks were real. So, there is, to some degree, honour among thieves.” Curran advised those affected to remain alert by using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being wary of suspicious emails or unusual activity
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