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Cyber Threat
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Ransomware victim Healthcare

MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases

Listed by Crypto24 on · organisation based in United Kingdom

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

Disclosed
Jan 24, 2026
Leak-site listing date
Threat group
Crypto24
47 victims listed
Country
United Kingdom
#4 most targeted
Sector
Healthcare

ThreatAI analysis

Compiled from this incident record and the threat intelligence profile for Crypto24. Figures and technique mappings are quoted from the source data, not inferred.

About the Crypto24 group

Crypto24 is a double-extortion ransomware-as-a-service group that surfaced on the RAMP forum in mid-2024, targeting large organizations in financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology across Asia, Europe, and North America, with notable victims including CMC Group, Vietnam's second-largest ICT conglomerate. Crypto24 has listed 47 victims since December 2023.

Incident analysis

MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases was listed by Crypto24 ransomware, a group with 47 victims recorded in this database. The listing appeared on the group's leak site on January 24, 2026.

MRC Prion Unit and Institute of Prion Diseases is based in United Kingdom and operates in the Healthcare sector. United Kingdom ranks #4 worldwide for ransomware disclosures, with 969 victims in this 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 follows a double extortion model: data is exfiltrated from the victim's systems before files are encrypted, so the victim faces two demands at once — pay to restore access, and pay to keep stolen data unpublished. The leak site, where this listing appeared, is the lever for the second demand.

Source. Public leak-site disclosures aggregated via the ransomware.live API. The disclosure date is when the listing was published, which can differ from the date of compromise. This site does not publish or link to stolen data. Last updated .

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 47 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.