Hackers Wipe Data from 200,000 Stryker Devices Globally

A cybersecurity incident disrupted operations at Stryker Corporation, a major U.S. medical technology firm, on March 11, when attackers accessed the company's Microsoft-based network and wiped data from over 200,000 devices worldwide. The breach, which affected servers and mobile units across nearly 30 countries including the United States, Ireland, and Australia, forced the company to activate emergency protocols and halt normal workflows in manufacturing, order processing, and shipping.

Stryker, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, disclosed the event in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company identified the issue promptly and engaged external specialists to investigate and contain the damage. No evidence of ransomware was found, and Stryker stated that the situation was under control, though full restoration of systems continued without a specified timeline. Employees reported sudden data loss on work phones and linked personal devices, leading to instructions to uninstall business-related applications and messaging tools. In some locations, staff resorted to manual logging to maintain operations amid the outages.