FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday disclosed that a malicious cyberattack on Boston Children's Hospital last year was sponsored by Iran.
Wray detailed this new information at the sixth annual cybersecurity conference at Boston College attended by cyber experts, law enforcement officials and business leaders.
Acting on a tip from an "intelligence partner" last August, Wray said the FBI moved to intercept the operatives before they could initiate the attack on the hospital, which specializes in pediatric care. Two other field offices, which Wray did not name, assisted the Boston FBI office with the effort.
The FBI first contacted Boston Children's administrators on Aug. 3, 2021. Wray said over the next 10 days the FBI coordinated with hospital computer experts to thwart malicious cyber activities, which at that point was clearly identified originating from Iranian sources.
Wray pointed out that it was the second time the hospital had been targeted. It faced cyberattacks in 2014 and 2019 from other hackers.
