'Despicable Attack:' Iranian-backed hackers targeted Boston Children’s Hospital, FBI reveals

FBI Director Christopher Wray disclosed Wednesday that Iranian-backed hackers launched a cyber attack last summer designed to disrupt services to sick patients at Boston Children’s Hospital.

In a speech at Boston College, Wray called the incident “one of the most despicable cyberattacks I have ever seen” and an example of the increasing risks medical providers face from state-sponsored cyber attacks.

“If malicious cyber actors are going to purposefully cause destruction, or hold data and systems for ransom, they tend to hit us somewhere that’s really going to hurt,” the FBI boss warned.

Wray detailed how quick action by he bureau and hospital thwarted the hackers. 

“We got a report from one of our intelligence partners indicating Boston Children’s was about to be targeted, and understanding the urgency of the situation, the cyber squad in our Boston field office raced out to notify the hospital,” Wray said.

“Quick actions by everyone involved, especially at the hospital, protected both the network and the sick kids that depend on it,” he added in the most extensive disclosure by U.S. authorities about the incident.

Wray had said in March that Iranian-sponsored hackers had tried to compromise an unnamed children’s hospital.

Boston Children’s Hospitalconfirmed that FBI and its staff had “proactively thwarted the threat to our network.”