“Black Suit” hackers hold SA’s Health Service hostage: Lives on the line

A ransomware attack on South Africa’s National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) is delaying the processing of millions of blood tests and imperilling the lives of an untold number of people. BizNews speaks to Chris Bateman, a former long-time News Editor of the South African Medical Journal – after he was contacted by the Eastern European-sounding middleman of the “Black Suit” hackers. The “middleman” made dire threats if the NHLS didn’t enter into negotiation with the hackers. Meanwhile, a 12-year-old girl is dying in Groote Schuur Hospital because her illness can’t be diagnosed without a blood test. There have been similar attacks in countries outside Russia…which leads to the suspicion that the hackers are Russian. Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here. Join us for BizNews’ first investment-focused conference on Thursday, 12 September, in Hermanus, featuring top experts like Frans Cronje, Piet Viljoen, and more. Get insights on electricity and exploiting SA’s gas bounty from new and familiar faces. Register here. Watch here Listen here Extended transcript of the interview ___STEADY_PAYWALL___ Chris Steyn (00:02.936)...