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File image of Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. Rollingnews.ie

Initial results 'positive' in testing decryption tool to unlock data, Health Minister says

A decryption key was made available yesterday but Donnelly said “no ransom has been paid”.

THE HEALTH MINISTER has described as “positive” the initial results from testing the validity of a decryption key that may help the HSE to unlock its IT systems.

The government said yesterday that the tool was made available online. A “detailed technical process” then began to ensure that the key is genuine and will not cause any further damage to the HSE systems.

The HSE shut down its IT systems last Friday after it became aware of a significant ransomware attack.

Stephen Donnelly said security contractors are “testing the validity of the key” at the moment. 

“The initial results are positive, but obviously it’s a detailed, technical piece of work,” the Health Minister told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland. 

And we need to be absolutely sure that this will help restore the health systems, rather than potentially cause further harm. So work is ongoing on that at the moment.

The minister said it’s “unclear” why this decryption tool was made available. 

“It came as a surprise. We became aware yesterday afternoon that the key was being made available on a site which is linked to this criminal gang.

“Our technical group obviously then obtained that key, and are currently testing it.”

The Journal reported yesterday that the ransomware attack started when a single computer stopped working, causing its user to reach out for help by clicking on a link.

Donnelly said “no ransom has been paid by this government directly, indirectly, through any third-party or in any other way, nor will any such ransom be paid”. 

Reports said the hackers have threatened to release the data if a ransom is not paid by next Monday, a threat Donnelly said is being taken “very seriously”. 

“There obviously have been redacted pieces of information put up on the dark web to this point. Because it’s an ongoing criminal investigation, we can’t confirm whether the records are genuine.

“However, as people will be aware. It is entirely possible and this sort of approach is quite standard procedure in these kinds of attacks.”

Injunction

Yesterday, the HSE acquired a court injunction that requires anyone who is possessing HSE data to hand it over and not disclose, trade or deal in the information.

Donnelly defended the injunction, saying officials received a “very positive and strong” result from the judge. 

“I don’t imagine that a criminal gang capable of doing what they did to our healthcare system and to patients in our country are going to be too worried about a court order, however it is relevant and very applicable to people here who may seek to share that information themselves, potentially just out of interest or for their own reasons,” he said. 

Donnelly added that there is “good progress being made” in restoring some health systems across services for radiology, local labs and patient administration. 

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    Mute Anna Carr
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    Dec 10th 2022, 11:58 AM

    Brrrrrrr…….. One word. LAYERS!!!

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    Mute Mike Finnegan
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    Dec 10th 2022, 12:59 PM

    @Anna Carr: yeah, it’s tough weather for the poor hens…….

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    Mute Geoff Bateman
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    Dec 10th 2022, 2:19 PM

    @Mike Finnegan: and the Bookmakers

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Dec 10th 2022, 5:15 PM

    @Anna Carr: birrrrrrrr is here in Offaly ;)

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    Mute David Devane
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    Dec 10th 2022, 2:52 PM

    Did that say Yellow snow warning…

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    Mute Sean O Cathasaigh
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    Dec 10th 2022, 3:28 PM

    My kids have no idea who hacksaw jimmy duggan, brutus the barber beefcake or macho man randy savage are. what the hell are they teaching them in school these days?

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    Mute Peter McCabe
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    Dec 10th 2022, 3:30 PM

    @Sean O Cathasaigh: Christmas Carols

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    Mute Maurice Glennon
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    Dec 10th 2022, 10:37 PM

    @Sean O Cathasaigh: teachers these days just stick on Youtube or Netflix for the kids & put their feet up.

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Dec 10th 2022, 9:20 PM

    What rotten weather for anyone homeless or can’t afford heating, our natural resources need to be brought back to public ownership, this greed is out of control & privatisation needs to be stopped now, these people’s greed is causing so much misery & their just plowing ahead with nobody controlling it all.

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    Mute Irish Cottage Rental
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    Dec 10th 2022, 3:33 PM

    Falling as “rain or sleep” – yes please !

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    Mute Aidan Conway
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    Dec 10th 2022, 2:58 PM

    Dont eat the yellow snow! Tgats my warning!

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    Mute James Johnson
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    Dec 10th 2022, 5:11 PM

    Hopefully the Munster v Toulouse game tomorrow won’t be affected, Rumours abound here in limerick.
    Child of Prague is out

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    Mute Gina Robinson
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    Dec 10th 2022, 6:33 PM

    Delighted to see we will have sleep

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    Mute Madra
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    Dec 10th 2022, 3:59 PM

    Typo in the article. It’s sleet not sleep.

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    Mute Daftbit Jelly
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    Dec 10th 2022, 10:45 PM

    @Madra: On your bike pedant.

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    Mute Dougz
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    Dec 10th 2022, 5:47 PM

    Orange warning sounds warmer than yellow warning! Get in! Toasty

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    Mute Frank Carty
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    Dec 10th 2022, 5:47 PM

    The map shows temps as 0 and -0

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    Mute Daftbit Jelly
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    Dec 10th 2022, 10:10 PM

    I’m bored with the weather stuff. Can’t we have more articles about racists taking over East Wall protests or some stuff ridiculing Enoch whatshisname.

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    Mute Jack Creegan
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    Dec 10th 2022, 10:27 PM

    I,m really enjoying this global warming. Can’t wait for net zero 2050.

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    Mute Daftbit Jelly
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    Dec 10th 2022, 10:44 PM

    It’s cold it’s winter. I think I have it in me to to be a columnist but feel I would have to avoid being succinct.

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