Officials have confirmed that the London Public Library cyberattack is attributed for the branch closures and service disruptions; they are attempting to repair the damage with the assistance of a third-party security firm.
The attack limited the services offered by the library and closed three of its sixteen branches. In the wake of the event, those three branches—Carpenter, Lambeth, and Glanworth—were shuttered, and they will stay closed until January 2.
The library has updated in a press release, “Early in the morning of December 13, 2023, London Public Library experienced a systems outage. Cybersecurity experts were immediately engaged by the Library and the investigation has been ongoing since then.”
Decoding the London Public Library Cyberattack
The library refused to specify if the last week outage was similar to the attack that targeted the Toronto Public Library last fall, referring to it simply as a “cyber incident” until Wednesday afternoon.
According to an update on the London Public Library cyberattack, the authorities stated, “The investigation has confirmed that the outage that occurred on December 13 was the result of a cyber attack. At this time, the investigation has not determined whether personal information may be implicated. The Library has also been communicating with the London Police Service in connection with the attack.”
The London Public Library cyberattack occurred seven days prior to the statement. Whether any data was deleted or corrupted is still unknown. The update further stated, “It is anticipated that the investigation and restoration to full operations will take more time. The Library will continue to provide more information as it is available.”
The London Public Library cyberattack brought down the digital catalog, staff emails, phone lines, website, and public Wi-Fi of the library, which is used by many Londoners.
The popular Libby app, which allows users to borrow ebooks and audiobooks, as well as the ability to place holds on books and other goods, is not accessible for library patrons.
The 13 branches of the library that are still open over the holidays have shortened their operational hours. Those who have checked out materials from the London Public Library are being advised to keep them until its systems are operational once more.
Visitors are urged by the library to check out its website for updates on restored digital resources and information on services that are now offered.
Not the First Library Cyberattack
In a similar attack, a ransomware group targeted the Toronto Public Library in October, causing a continuing disruption in services. The attack brought down the public computers and printers at the library’s branches as well as the website.
Authorities suspect that the hackers took copies of official identification documents and social insurance numbers belonging to both present and past workers. In order to improve network security and restore the systems, the Toronto library is still collaborating with outside specialists.
In late October 2023, a cyberattack targeted the British Library. The Rhysida ransomware gang took responsibility for the attack and posted sale offers of 490,191 stolen files from the British Library on the dark web.
The British Library is the biggest library in the United Kingdom, housing more than 170 million objects, including rare manuscripts and millions of books. Users who use the same password for multiple services are advised by the library to change them.
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