A hacker group linked to Iran has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on US medical equipment company Stryker, causing global disruptions to its systems. The attack on Wednesday left thousands of employees unable to access company networks, according to local reports.
The group, known as Handala, stated in a social media post that the attack was retaliation for the destruction of a school in Minab, Iran, during US and Israeli strikes, and in response to cyber assaults against the Axis of Resistance. Handala described Stryker as a 'Zionist-rooted corporation' and a key part of the 'global Zionist lobby'.
Stryker, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying it was experiencing a global network disruption to its Microsoft environment. The company noted no ransomware or malware was detected and that the incident was contained, with business continuity measures in place.
Handala claimed to have wiped over 200,000 systems, servers, and mobile devices, and extracted 50 terabytes of data, which it said was released to the public. The group threatened further attacks, stating the 'era of the Epstein rings' is over.
Healthcare professionals warned of potential supply chain impacts, as most US hospitals use Stryker products. However, the American Hospital Association reported no direct disruptions to hospitals as of yet. Stryker employees were instructed not to log on to company systems.
The attack came a day after FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency was working '24/7' to counter cyber threats under President Trump's cyber strategy.
