Cyber Threat Intelligence
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Ransomware Victim Healthcare

MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases

Ransomware attack by Crypto24 · Disclosed January 24, 2026 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/prion

Date Disclosed
Jan 24, 2026
2026
Threat Group
Crypto24
46 total victims
Country
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Industry
Healthcare

Incident Analysis

MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases was targeted by Crypto24 ransomware, one of the most active ransomware groups in our database with 46 confirmed victims globally. The attack was disclosed on January 24, 2026, when MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases is based in United Kingdom , operating in the Healthcare sector. United Kingdom ranks #4 globally for ransomware attacks, with 846 victims in our database.

Sector context: Healthcare organisations are high-value ransomware targets because patient data is extremely sensitive, regulatory penalties for breaches are severe, and operational downtime can threaten patient safety — all factors that increase ransom payment pressure.

Crypto24 typically employs a double extortion model: first exfiltrating sensitive data from the victim's systems, then deploying ransomware to encrypt files. Victims face two simultaneous threats — paying to restore access and paying to prevent publication of stolen data. The group's leak site publishes victim names and exfiltrated data as leverage.

Data source: This incident record is sourced from public ransomware group leak site disclosures aggregated via the ransomware.live API. Disclosure date reflects when the victim was published on the leak site, which may differ from the initial date of compromise. This platform does not publish or link to stolen data. Last data update: Aug 6, 2026 18:00 UTC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases attacked by ransomware?

Yes. MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases was listed as a victim of the Crypto24 ransomware group on January 24, 2026. The organisation is based in United Kingdom and operates in the Healthcare sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases?

MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases was attacked by Crypto24 ransomware. Crypto24 is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 46 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases was disclosed on January 24, 2026. This date reflects when the victim was published on the threat group's leak site, which may differ from the actual date of initial compromise.

What data was stolen in the MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases has not been independently verified by this platform. Ransomware groups typically exfiltrate data before encrypting systems and use the threat of publication to pressure victims. As a Healthcare organisation, MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases likely held patient records, medical data, and personally identifiable information (PII).

How can organisations protect against Crypto24 attacks?

To defend against Crypto24 and similar threat actors, organisations should: maintain regular offline backups tested for restoration; implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement; deploy multi-factor authentication on all remote access; use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools; conduct regular phishing and security awareness training; and monitor threat intelligence feeds for indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with active groups.