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Healthcare workers managing patient care during ransomware attack disruption
HighCyber Attacks

INC Ransomware Targets Healthcare Systems Across Oceania

INC ransomware group attacked healthcare facilities and government agencies across Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga in recent coordinated strikes.

Emanuel DE ALMEIDA 11 Mar 2026, 23:00 2 min read 20 views 0 Comments

Last updated 12 Mar 2026, 02:09

Key Takeaways

INC Ransomware Strikes Healthcare Infrastructure

The INC ransomware group launched coordinated attacks against healthcare facilities and government agencies across the Oceania region. The attacks targeted critical infrastructure in Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga.

Emergency clinics and government services experienced significant disruptions as the ransomware encrypted systems and demanded payment for decryption keys.

Critical Services Disrupted Across Three Nations

Healthcare providers bore the brunt of the attacks, with emergency clinics forced to operate with limited digital capabilities. Government agencies in all three countries reported system compromises that affected public services.

The targeting of healthcare infrastructure during ongoing global health challenges amplifies the potential impact on patient care and emergency response capabilities.

Prolific Group Expands Regional Operations

INC has established itself as a persistent threat actor with a track record of targeting critical infrastructure. The group's expansion into the Oceania region represents a geographic escalation of their operations.

Organizations should implement immediate backup verification, network segmentation, and incident response protocols. Healthcare facilities must prioritize offline backup systems and emergency operational procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the INC ransomware group?
INC is a prolific ransomware outfit that targets critical infrastructure, recently expanding operations to attack healthcare and government systems across Oceania.
Which countries were affected by the INC ransomware attacks?
Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga experienced attacks on their healthcare facilities and government agencies by the INC ransomware group.
How should healthcare organizations protect against ransomware?
Healthcare facilities should implement offline backup systems, network segmentation, verified backup procedures, and emergency operational protocols for system outages.

About the Author

Emanuel DE ALMEIDA

Emanuel DE ALMEIDA

Senior IT Journalist & Cloud Architect

Microsoft MCSA-certified Cloud Architect | Fortinet-focused. I modernize cloud, hybrid & on-prem infrastructure for reliability, security, performance and cost control - sharing field-tested ops & troubleshooting.

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