Yap Department of Health Services and Federated States of Micronesia Department of Health and Social Affairs: A ransomware attack hit the Micronesian state of Yap, causing the health system network to go down.

Ransomware Attack Disrupts Health Services in Yap, Micronesia

On March 11, 2025, the Yap Department of Health Services in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) detected a ransomware attack that forced the shutdown of its entire government health network. The incident, identified at 3:00 PM local time, prompted officials to take all systems offline to prevent further damage, cutting off internet connectivity, email servers, and digital health services.

Yap, one of FSM’s four states, is a Pacific island region with a population of approximately 11,000, relying on subsistence farming, fishing, and limited tourism. The attack disrupted health operations, though the department assured the public that services remained operational albeit at a slower pace. A Facebook notification confirmed that the agency was working with the FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs and external IT contractors to assess the breach, determine compromised data, and restore systems.

No ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Yap’s health officials continue to investigate the incident, with updates expected as recovery efforts progress. The attack follows a pattern of cyber incidents targeting Pacific island nations, including previous ransomware strikes on Tonga, Vanuatu, and the Philippines.

Source: https://securityaffairs.com/175445/cyber-crime/a-ransomware-attack-hit-the-micronesian-state-of-yap.html

Pacific Island Health Officers Association cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/pacific-island-health-officers-association

FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/fsm-dhsa

"id": "PACFSM1768391319",
"linkid": "pacific-island-health-officers-association, fsm-dhsa",
"type": "Ransomware",
"date": "3/2025",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "7",
"explanation": "Attack that could injure or kill people"

{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'Healthcare',
                        'location': 'Yap, Federated States of Micronesia',
                        'name': 'Yap Health Department',
                        'size': 'Small (population ~11,000)',
                        'type': 'Government Health Agency'}],
 'customer_advisories': 'Public reassurance of continued services with slower '
                        'response times',
 'date_detected': '2025-03-11T15:00:00',
 'date_publicly_disclosed': '2025-03-16',
 'description': 'A ransomware attack hit the Micronesian state of Yap, causing '
                'the health system network to go down. The Yap Health '
                'Department detected the attack on March 11, 2025, and shut '
                'down its network and digital health systems to contain the '
                'threat. Services continue but are slower due to disruptions.',
 'impact': {'operational_impact': 'Slower services, no internet connectivity, '
                                  'all computers shut down',
            'systems_affected': 'Health Department network, digital health '
                                'systems, email servers'},
 'investigation_status': 'Ongoing',
 'references': [{'date_accessed': '2025-03-16', 'source': 'SecurityAffairs'}],
 'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Facebook announcement, public '
                                        'reassurance of continued services',
              'containment_measures': 'Network taken offline, all computers '
                                      'shut down',
              'remediation_measures': 'Assessing extent of infiltration, '
                                      'determining data breach, restoring '
                                      'services',
              'third_party_assistance': 'FSM Department of Health and Social '
                                        'Affairs, private IT contractors'},
 'title': 'Ransomware Attack on Yap Health Department',
 'type': 'ransomware'}