Mafia-type gangs, not foreign powers blamed for cyber attacks on French hospitals

Mafia-type organisations, often based in Eastern Europe, are likely to have been behind a recent wave of cyber attacks on French hospitals, rather than foreign powers, France’s Digital Technology Minister says.

“Concerning the hospitals, in all likelihood, it is not foreign powers, but rather mafia-type organisations — often situated in eastern countries but not just limited to there — who are looking for money,” minister Cedric O told France 2 television.

Mr O said such criminal organisations would typically demand ransom money from victims to restore their computer systems, after paralysing their software.

He added that the situation at French hospitals had stabilised following the cyber attacks earlier this year, but hospitals at…