Iranian Cyberattack Hits Stryker, Claims Verifone Breach; Bitcoin Holds at $70K

The Iranian-linked hacking group Handala launched an attack on U.S. medical device giant Stryker on March 11 and claimed to have successfully breached global payment processor Verifone. The incident opens a new cyber front in the Iranian conflict, directly threatening financial infrastructure, while Bitcoin traded at $70,394 and market sentiment remained in extreme fear. Cybersecurity experts link Handala to Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), stating the operation was retaliation for the February 28 airstrike against an Iranian school that killed at least 175 people, mostly children. Handala Wipes 200,000 Stryker Devices in 79 Countries Over 200,000 systems, servers, and mobile devices were wiped. Handala claims to have exfiltrated 50TB of data, forcing Stryker to shut down offices in 79 countries. Cybersecurity journalist Kim Zetter reported on the scope of the attack: Source: @KimZetter on X Stryker's stock price fell 3.6% on Wednesday to $345.78. The company stated, "There is no indication of ransomware or malware, and believe the incident is contained." Handala Also Claims to Breach Verifone, a Payment Processor Used in Over 150 Countries Handala claims the operation caused widespread disruption to payment terminals, and that transaction records and financial data have been "completely exfiltrated." The group stated the operation was a response to Israeli airstrikes on Iranian banking infrastructure. Verifone has denied the claims, stating "We have found no evidence of any such event related to this claim and there has been no disruption to our customer's service." Regardless of whether Verifone's claims are validated, the incident indicates that Iranian-linked hackers are now targeting financial and payment infrastructure, including cryptocurrency exchanges and blockchain-related fintech platforms. Iran's $7.8 Billion Cryptocurrency Ecosystem Faces Pressure From Both Sides Bitcoin Holds at $70K While Fear Index Reaches 18

Crypto Fear and Greed Index at 18 (Extreme Fear). Source: Alternative.me Over 60 Hacking Groups Active Since February 28 Targets include Israeli payment systems, Kuwaiti government websites, Bahraini and Saudi Arabian airports, and drone defense systems. Cyber Islamic Resistance, an umbrella collective, claimed to have compromised Israeli payment infrastructure. CISA's investigation into the Stryker breach is ongoing. Unit 42 warns that the degradation of Iran's command structure may lead to state-linked cyber units operating in "operational isolation," leading to attacks that deviate from established patterns.