New Delhi: A large cyberattack disrupted global networks of medical device company Stryker after an Iran linked hacking group claimed responsibility. The group said the attack served as retaliation for a deadly strike on a school in southern Iran which killed more than 170 people, most of them schoolgirls.
The hacking persona Handala claimed responsibility for the operation. The group said it seized 50 terabytes of company data. It stated the data now belongs to what it described as the free people of the world.
The cyber disruption began shortly after midnight on the United States East Coast on Wednesday. Windows based devices connected to Stryker’s systems stopped working. Employees reported login pages showing the Handala logo during the outage.
Stryker confirmed a global network disruption affecting its Microsoft environment. The company said investigators found no evidence of ransomware or malware. Officials stated the incident appeared contained. A recorded message at the company headquarters in Portage, Michigan informed callers about a building emergency.
The hacking group linked the attack to a strike on a school in Minab in southern Iran. The strike took place on the first day of the United States and Israeli military war against Iran. An investigation by Al Jazeera’s Digital Investigations Unit studied satellite imagery and reported the school appeared possibly targeted deliberately.
Six senior Democratic senators in the United States demanded an investigation into the strike. The lawmakers expressed horror over the deaths.
Stryker produces medical devices including artificial joints, surgical instruments, hospital beds, and robotic surgery systems. The company reported revenue exceeding 25 billion dollars in 2025 and said its products reach more than 150 million patients across 61 countries.
Handala also claimed an attack on payments company Verifone. The firm denied service disruption.
Iranian authorities issued warnings against Western economic targets. Officials stated economic centers and banks linked to the United States and Israel stand as legitimate targets.
