The British Library Faces Cyberattack, Prompts Multi-Day Technology Outage, Reports Geeky News

Surrey, United Kingdom Nov 8, 2023 (Issuewire.com) - Geeky News--a leading technology and lifestyle journal--reports on the cyber incident that affected The British Library recently. The National Library of the United Kingdom recently fell victim to a cyberattack. That has led to a prolonged technology outage that has sent ripples across the institution.

The official posts by the library on social media, including X (formerly Twitter), revealed that the cyber incident began on 28th October, initially causing "technical issues." However, the situation escalated over the ensuing days, resulting in widespread disruptions and raising concerns among researchers, staff, and scholars.

According to Geeky News, the cyberattack caused major problems for the library. It affected the website, Wi-Fi services, and services at the St Pancras and Yorkshire locations. Although public Wi-Fi was eventually restored, online services, such as the digital catalogue and collections, became temporarily inaccessible. 

Collection items requested on or after October 27th are currently unavailable, and new items ordered through reading room computers and digital catalogues have limited availability. Furthermore, the incident disrupted the reader registration services at the library.

Nevertheless, The British Library has assured that collection items requested on or before October 26th remain accessible. And, onsite facilities, including Reading Rooms for personal study, continue to operate. The institution has implemented "very limited manual collection item ordering" through its printed catalogue for items stored at the St Pancras base.

Taking immediate action to mitigate the impact of the cyberattack, The British Library has initiated an investigation into the incident in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). A statement released on social media said, "The British Library is experiencing a major technology outage, as a result of a cyber incident. This is affecting online systems and services, our website, and onsite services including our reading rooms. We are investigating the incident with the support of the NCSC and cybersecurity specialists."

The library expressed gratitude for the support and understanding received from its users, staff, and partners. It emphasised that the library's sites remain open to the public, with details of available services accessible via @britishlibrary on social media.

The library has not disclosed the nature of the cyberattack or the method of system infiltration. However, experts speculate that the incident may be the result of a ransomware attack, given the significant operational disruptions. Authorities have not confirmed whether any personal data of consumers or employees was compromised during the incident.

Despite the cyberattack, the library is still keeping the "Fantasy: Realms of Imagination" exhibition open. Visitors can buy tickets at the venue with cash.

The British Library, known as one of the world's largest libraries, encourages users to stay updated through its official communication channels and social media networks for further information about the cyber incident.

This event serves as a stark reminder that no organisation, including cultural and educational institutions, is immune to cyberattacks. The evolving cyber threat landscape underscores the essential investment in robust cybersecurity measures, such as high-end vulnerability management, to safeguard organisations.

Vulnerability management solutions, like those offered by Rootshell Security, play a pivotal role in helping organisations gain comprehensive insights into their digital landscape, enabling them to identify, prioritise, and mitigate potential security threats before they escalate into full-scale cyberattacks.

To read the full story, please visit: https://www.geekynews.co.uk/the-british-library-hard-hit-by-cyberattack/