CIB report identifies Chinese man as suspect behind MacKay Memorial Hospital ransomware attack

Taipei's MacKay Memorial Hospital was hit by a ransomware attack on Feb. 6 by a hacker using the alias "Crazyhunter," which paralyzed the hospital's computer systems and demanded payment in return, Lin Chien-lung, head of the CIB's High-Tech Crime Center said at a news conference, as quoted by Focus Taiwan.

The hospital authority informed about the hacking incident to police.

The CIB and Taipei prosecutors created a joint team to probe the case.

After the hospital refused to pay the ransom, patient data stolen in the attack was put up for sale in an online forum frequented by hackers on Feb. 28, Lin was quoted as saying by the news portal.

Officials investigating the case found that "Crazyhunter" had been involved in a total of 11 hacking attacks in Taiwan in February and March, which also victimized other hospitals, schools and listed companies, the news portal reported.

By analyzing IP data, hacking techniques and the ransomware used, CIB identified "Crazyhunter" as a 20-year-old employee of a cyber security company in Zhejiang Province of China who is surnamed Lo.

The CIB said Lo had even set up a website on the dark web displaying his hacking targets and how much money he had extorted from them, with the purpose of sowing fear among the Taiwanese public and undermining social order, reported Focus Taiwan.

What is the basis of China’s claim over Taiwan?

The basis of China’s claim over Taiwan dates back to 1945 when Japan lost its control over the island in 1945,post-World War Two.

The 1949 Chinese civil war led to communists taking control and Chiang Kai-shek the one who lost fled to Taiwan.

He ruled it for many decades.

This is where China’s claim to Taiwan emanates. The very fact that Chiang Kai-shek came to Taiwan and was not indigenous to the place is Taiwan’s argument against the claim.