Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) is reportedly grappling with a widespread cyber disruption across its global technology systems.
Employees and contractors reported seeing the logo of a hacking group linked to Iran appear on internal login pages.
Stryker, one of the largest medical device companies, has a market cap of around $137.3 billion, with an enterprise value of around $149 billion, according to Benzinga Pro data.
The outage began shortly after midnight on the U.S. East Coast, the Wall Street Journal noted, citing people familiar with the situation.
Company Systems Wiped In Overnight Outage
Staff members attempting to access company systems discovered that remote devices running Microsoft’s Windows operating system—including laptops, mobile phones, and other company-connected equipment—had been wiped.
The incident has disrupted employees’ ability to access internal services and systems, creating operational challenges across the company’s technology environment.
Iran-Linked Cyber Hacktivist Group Suspected
People familiar with the situation said the login pages displayed the logo of Handala, a pro-Palestinian hacking group. Social media posts circulating online also referenced the group in connection with the disruption.
Handala, which emerged around 2022, has been linked to Iran by multiple threat intelligence firms.
The group has previously claimed responsibility for several cyberattacks targeting Israeli companies and organizations in the Gulf region in recent weeks.
Cybersecurity experts consider Iran a significant cyber threat.
Potential Escalation In Cyber Conflict
The disruption at Stryker could represent a notable escalation in cyber activity tied to geopolitical tensions.
Stryker continues to investigate the incident as efforts remain underway to restore affected systems and determine the full scope of the disruption.
Company Advises Staff To Disconnect Devices
The WSJ noted that a spokesperson for Stryker confirmed the ongoing disruption.
In an internal notice viewed by WSJ Pro Cybersecurity, the company instructed employees not to power on company-issued devices and to immediately disconnect from all corporate networks.
The email also advised staff to avoid clicking suspicious links and to remove mobile device management applications and work profiles from their phones as a precaution.
The company added that it has not yet identified the root cause of the disruption and is actively working with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) to investigate the incident.
Recent Earnings
Stryker reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $4.47 per share, topping the analyst consensus estimate of $4.39.
Revenue for the quarter totaled $7.17 billion, exceeding Wall Street expectations of $7.12 billion.
Looking ahead, the company forecast fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings in the range of $14.90 to $15.10 per share, compared with the consensus estimate of $14.98. Stryker also expects organic net sales growth of 8% to 9.5% in 2026.
SYK Stock Reaction
SYK Price Action: Stryker shares were down 3.82% at $344.96 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Image via Shutterstock
Recent Comments