Watch for updates on this developing story. After Health Service Executive, Ireland’s state health services provider, shut down all its IT systems serving hospitals in the wake of a ransomware attack early Friday, some security experts praised its decisive action and refusal to pay a ransom. When unusual activity was spotted on IT networks at a Dublin maternity hospital and a ransomware virus was found, HSE shut down all its IT systems serving healthcare facilities throughout Ireland to prevent the spread of the malware, forcing clinicians to use paper-based processes, Irish state broadcaster RTE reports. Paul Reid, CEO of Health Service Executive, said the shutdown followed a “significant ransomware attack” that caused widespread disruption to the HSE’s systems, RTE reports.