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The British Library , the interior library of the United Kingdom and one of the world ’s largest libraries , has confirmed that aransomware attackled to the stealing of internal datum .
In late October , the British Library first disclose it was experiencing an unspecified cybersecurity incident that induce a “ major technology outage ” across its sites in London and Yorkshire , which downed its website , earphone demarcation , and on - site services , such as visitor Wi - Fi and electronic payments .
Two week on , and the British Library outage is still ongoing . However , the organization has now sustain the disruption is the result of a ransomware attack launched “ by a group known for such criminal activity . ” The British Library said that some inner data point has leaked online , which “ seems to be from our internal HR files . ”
We ’re keep to experience a major engineering science outage as a solution of a cyber - plan of attack , affecting our website , on-line systems and services , and some onsite services too . We expect restore many services in the next few weeks , but some disruption may persist for longer.…pic.twitter.com/Wdj7VfkWXa
— British Library ( @britishlibrary)November 20 , 2023
This confirmation come hours after the British Library was listed on the dark-skinned web leakage site of the Rhysida ransomware crew . The listing , see by TechCrunch , claimed responsibleness for the cyberattack and threatens to release datum stolen from the British Libraryunless it ante up a ransom demand . The gang call for more than $ 740,000 worth of bitcoin at the time of composition .
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The Rhysida ransomware mob has n’t said how much or what types of data it has steal from the British Library , but sample of the data apportion by the crew appear to include utilization documents and recommendation scans .
Rhysida was last weekthe subject of a joint CISA and FBI advisory , which warned that the group leverages external - face remote services , such as VPNs , to compromise organizations across the education , IT and government sectors . The advisory also warned that Rhysida , which was first note in May , part overlaps withthe Vice Society ransomware gang , a cut group known for ransomware extortion attacks on health care and educational organizations .
“ Notably , concord to the ransomware chemical group ’s data leak site , Vice Society has not posted a dupe since July 2023 , which is around the prison term Rhysida begin cover victims on its website , ” Sophos research worker Colin Cowie and Morgan Demboski wrote in arecent analytic thinking of Rhysida .
It ’s not uncommon for ransomware gangs todisband , rebrand or create new malware variants , often as a manner toevade regime sanctionsoravoid arrest by natural law enforcement .
In a assertion on Monday shared on X ( formerly Twitter ) , the British Library enounce it has “ no grounds ” that the data point of its customers was compromised but is recommending that user transfer their passwords as a “ precautionary measure , ” peculiarly if customers use the same word across multiple service .
It ’s not experience if the British Library has the expert way to see if client datum was taken .
The British Library has not yet said how it was compromise , how much employee data was stolen , or whether it has received communications or a ransom money demand from the hackers . The British Library did not respond to TechCrunch ’s interrogative sentence , though it ’s not clear-cut if the organization has access to email services . The library ’s website remains offline at the prison term of publication .
The British Library say in its latest financial statement that it could take workweek , or possibly even longer , for it to recover from the ransomware attack . “ We expect doctor many services in the next few week , but some commotion may persist for foresighted , ” the statement said .
“ In the meanwhile , we ’ve taken targeted protective measures to ensure the integrity of our systems , and we ’re continuing to investigate the onrush with the sustenance of [ National Cyber Security Centre ] , the Metropolitan Police and cybersecurity specialist . ”
Why the public sphere is an easy mark for ransomware
