The attack on the computer system of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi originated from China, government sources today said, assuring that the data — details of lakhs of patients at the premier hospital — has now been retrieved, according to NDTV.

Earlier, PTI reported that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the "deliberate and targeted" ransomware attack on the servers of AIIMS Delhi.

"I can't comment on that as it is a subject matter of an investigation by the NIA...It is pretty clear that it is a deliberate and targeted effort...a ransomware attack on AIIMS' system... and NIA is investigating it," Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on the sidelines of the CII Global Economic Policy Summit 2022.

The minister further said the NIA "will be in a position to comment on it when they are ready".

Chandrasekhar had said the ransomware attack on the servers of AIIMS Delhi was a conspiracy.

"It is clearly a conspiracy and it has been planned by forces that are pretty significant. It is a sophisticated ransomware attack. We will wait for the outcome of CERTin and NIA (investigations) before we come to conclusion on who is behind the ransomware attack," Chandrasekhar had said on December 2.

In a ransomware attack, cybercriminals lock access to data or a device and promise to unlock it after they are paid the desired ransom.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi allegedly faced a cyber attack on November 23, paralysing its servers. A case of extortion and cyber terrorism was registered by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police on November 25.