London Public Library officials say most systems have largely returned to normal operation following the ransomware attack that took place more than two months ago.
However, after so long, we do not know details about the attack (e.g. hacking team, amount of data , and total cost to repair the damage).
Michael Ciccone, the library's CEO and chief librarian, said most systems have been restored.
“We're just running into some issues, finishing up some coding details, but hopefully it'll be back relatively soon“.
See also: Phobos ransomware targets critical US infrastructure
The December 13 cyberattack had caused widespread disruption to the systems , forcing it to temporarily close some branches and provide free monitoring to employees, as the personal details of some staff members had been compromised.
Library officials have not provided details on how the ransomware infected the network. All we know is that it was not a phishing. It is also not believed to be related to a breach of a third-party vendor.
Access to the library's online catalog and online portal for library patrons was restored in mid-January, along with other digital services (e.g., OverDrive and audiobook access).
The ransomware attack forced the London Public Library to strengthen its IT infrastructure.
See also: Toronto library recovers 4 months after cyberattack
“We had plans, but because we don't have a significant budget, we had to move slowly in building this cybersecurity , and ultimately, the delay hurt our chance of preventing the attack.“.
The library did not pay a ransom to restore its systems, and the full extent of the stolen data is not yet known. We also do not know if the data has been leaked onto the dark web.
The London Public Library has worked with police to investigate the ransomware attack and its impact, and has also notified the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
It remains to be seen how much the library will have to spend to mitigate the effects of the ransomware attack and strengthen its defenses against potential future breaches.
☁️ Keep safe copies with Proton Drive
Encrypted cloud storage from Proton — protect your files from ransomware, corruption, and data loss with end-to-end encryption.
- ✔ End-to-end encrypted files & backups
- ✔ Version history — recover files after ransomware
- ✔ Free space — sync across all devices
The link is an affiliate link — SecNews may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. It does not affect the independence of our article writing.
See also: The British Library has begun restoring its online services
Ransomware attacks on libraries: Protection
Libraries can protect themselves from ransomware by training their staff to recognize and avoid phishing attacks, which are the most common methods of spreading ransomware.
Additionally, using reliable security that include ransomware protection and regular system and application updates can help protect against attacks.
It is also important to regularly maintain backups of important data , which should be stored in a secure offline location , to be resilient to ransomware attacks
Finally, limited access to critical systems and data can limit the extent of damage a ransomware attack can cause.
Source: www.cbc.ca
