Due to a cyberattack, a major blood bank has been forced to cancel appointments amidst an ongoing blood shortage.

 A ransomware attack caused the cancellation of 17 blood drives this weekend.

Blood is collected for testing at a New York Blood Center location in Brooklyn.

Feb. 1, 2025, 2:30 AM GMT+6

The New York Blood Center, one of the largest nonprofit blood donation and distribution organizations in the U.S., has been forced to cancel appointments and blood drives following a ransomware attack.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the center reported that hackers launched a ransomware attack on Sunday, significantly disrupting its operations.

While the center is still accepting blood donations, it is warning donors to expect longer wait times and has no estimated timeline for fully restoring its services.

As the largest blood provider in the New York City area, the center plays a crucial role in the U.S. blood supply, which relies on independent blood suppliers like it for 60% of its donations, according to America's Blood Centers, a nonprofit representing blood donation organizations across the nation.

Ransomware, a form of cybercrime, involves hackers locking up an organization’s computer systems and demanding payment in Bitcoin in exchange for a decryption key to restore access.

For organizations, handling a ransomware attack often means taking systems offline to remove the malicious software or replacing affected devices. Even if the ransom is paid, the impact of such attacks can still be severe.

The New York Blood Center announced the cancellation of eight blood drives scheduled for Friday and nine for Sunday due to the attack. Prior to the cyberattack, the center was already facing significant pressure. Just last week, it declared a blood emergency as factors like winter travel and school breaks led to a sharp drop in the availability of types O and B blood, which could last only one or two days.

Allan Liska, a ransomware expert at the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future, told NBC News that attacks on medical nonprofits and sensitive organizations like blood centers have become increasingly common.

“We should be shocked by this latest attack, but ransomware groups have targeted food banks, children’s hospitals, and this isn’t the first time a blood bank has been hit,” Liska said. “The attackers have no concern for who suffers or dies as a result of their actions.”

Liska also noted that ransomware continues to be a significant issue, with 4,634 publicly reported attacks worldwide in 2024, up from 4,400 in 2023, according to Recorded Future data.