A ransomware attack at the Seattle Public Library has brought services — destroying the wireless network, computers for staff and patrons , and the entire online catalog.
See also: California library has not recovered from ransomware
The incident began on Saturday, said in a statement Monday afternoon. The library has 27 different branches serving nearly 800,000 residents.
The Seattle library planned to take its systems offline over Memorial Day weekend to perform maintenance on a server, but discovered the ransomware attack early that morning.
While investigating the incident, it has disabled all systems and contacted law enforcement. There is no estimated recovery time.
Libraries will remain open and will lend books and CDs manually.
See also: London Public Library – ransomware attack: Most systems have been restored
The Seattle Public Library joins many city and county library systems around the world that can become targets of ransomware gangs — which use demand for e-books and critical services as an incentive to make organizations pay.
Last fall, ransomware gangs destroyed the systems of the British Library — one of the largest in the world and the national library of the United Kingdom. The Toronto Public Library spent months recovering from a ransomware attack last fall, which they called a “crime scene.”
Attacks on libraries around the world even prompted U.S. officials to propose the creation of a program in November specifically designed to collect data on cybersecurity measures and advanced firewall services that would better help libraries defend themselves against hackers.
See also: Toronto library recovers 4 months after cyberattack
What are the basic prevention measures against ransomware attacks?
Regularly backing up data is critical to preventing ransomware attacks, as was the case with the Seattle Public Library. Backups should be stored in secure, isolated locations. Training employees about ransomware threats and social engineering is essential. Using security software and antivirus can help detect and prevent ransomware attacks. Implementing security policies, such as using strong and unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and restricting access to critical systems and data, can reduce the risk of attacks. Finally, regularly updating software and operating systems is crucial to preventing ransomware attacks.
Source: therecord
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