大象传媒

The cyber-criminals responsible for causing major disruption at London hospitals say they are 鈥渟orry" for all the harm caused but are 鈥渘ot to blame鈥�.

The ransomware gang spoke to the 大象传媒 on encrypted chat service qTox attempting to justify the attack as a form of political protest.

Qilin, which has a well established record of attempting to extort money, claims in this instance it carried out a cyber-attack as revenge for the UK government鈥檚 actions in an undisclosed war.

Experts are sceptical, however, with Jen Ellis, from the organisation Ransomware Task Force, telling the 大象传媒 that "cyber-criminals like this gang lie routinely."

So who are they? And why did they do it?

大象传媒 Radio London's Shay Kaur Grewal has been speaking to our Security Correspondent Joe Tidy.

(Image credit: Getty Images)