The RCMP have launched a criminal investigation into the suspected cyberattack on Newfoundland and Labrador’s health-care system.
The provincewide disruption of health-care services started Saturday, and continues to affect thousands of appointments and procedures, including those involving COVID-19 testing.
It has forced the province’s largest health authority, Eastern Health, to resort to using paper-based backups.
The province hasn’t provided much detail on what’s happening, and hasn’t confirmed it’s a ransomware attack, with Health Minister John Haggie calling it
Monday a “possible cyberattack.”
But in its investigation, RCMP said it would use specialized units within the force with expertise in cyber threats.
Ransomware attacks use malicious software to block or encrypt files, with a ransom payment demanded in order to restore access.
Service provider Bell Aliant hasn’t responded to multiple calls and emails from CBC News.
No other information about the investigation was provided by the police force.