A leading cancer hospital in Cyprus has started a full investigation after finding signs of a possible cyber attack. The Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, an important institution for cancer treatment, confirmed the investigation this week. This happened after they noticed unusual activity in their computer systems. The centre says that no patient has been harmed, but the event has led to a joint response from national cybersecurity and data protection officials.
The hospital discovered the possible problem on Monday and immediately followed its emergency plan. They informed the national Digital Security Authority (DSA), which protects important national infrastructure. At the same time, the centre asked a cybersecurity company to examine their systems in detail. They also told the Office of the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection because hospitals hold very private medical information.
Hospitals are often targets for cybercriminals because they keep extremely sensitive data. Patient records can include not just medical history, but also identity numbers, financial details, and addresses. This information is very valuable to criminals. As a central place for cancer care, the Oncology Centre holds a large amount of this private data, which makes any security threat very serious. Experts are still investigating exactly what happened and whether any information was stolen.
In a statement, the centre stressed that its main priority is the safety of its patients and that treatments have continued without interruption. "We want to reassure everyone that no patient has been affected," a representative said. While the investigation continues, the hospital has added stronger security measures to its networks to prevent any further problems.
The involvement of national authorities shows that this incident is being taken very seriously. The results of the investigation will be important, not just for this hospital, but for all healthcare in Cyprus. It will show if this was a blocked attack or a more serious data breach. The outcome will probably change how other hospitals in the country approach cybersecurity, highlighting the constant challenge of protecting private information in modern healthcare.