Stryker Corporation, a major medical device manufacturer based in Michigan, has experienced a global network disruption following a cyberattack that may be linked to a pro-Iranian hacking group.
The company confirmed that the incident affected its Microsoft 365 environment, causing widespread access issues for employees and potentially disrupting internal operations.
Employees Report System Access Issues
According to a Stryker employee based in Idaho, staff members were unable to access company networks after the attack. Employees were reportedly instructed not to connect to the company’s VPN systems or use corporate software until further notice.
Some workers also said that company-issued work phones were remotely wiped as a precaution while the company’s security teams investigated the breach.
Company Says Incident Appears Contained
In a message sent to customers, Stryker acknowledged the disruption and said it is working to assess the impact.
The company noted that there was currently no evidence of ransomware or malware affecting its systems and that the situation appeared to be contained. Teams are continuing to investigate how the attack occurred and whether any data was compromised.
Hacktivist Group Claims Responsibility
Shortly after the disruption became public, a pro-Iranian hacktivist group claimed responsibility for the cyberattack on social media. The group alleged that it targeted Stryker because it viewed the company as a “Zionist-rooted corporation.”
The hackers claimed that as many as 200,000 systems were affected and that roughly 50 terabytes of data were extracted during the attack. However, these claims have not been independently verified, and Stryker has not confirmed the group’s involvement.
Other Companies Mentioned in Claims
The same hacking group also claimed it breached Verifone, a company that provides electronic payment technology to many major retailers.
However, Verifone denied the allegations, stating that its security teams closely monitor system integrity worldwide and that no evidence of an intrusion or service disruption had been found.
Investigation Ongoing
Cybersecurity experts note that attacks on major companies have increased in recent years, especially during periods of geopolitical tension. Investigators are still working to determine the scope of the disruption at Stryker and whether the hacktivist group’s claims about stolen data are accurate.
For now, the company says its teams are focused on restoring systems and ensuring the security of its network while continuing to monitor the situation.
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