The Seattle Public Library experienced a ransomware attack on its technology systems which forced the organization to take its systems offline for planned maintenance over the holiday weekend. The attack impacted access to staff and public computers, online catalog and loaning systems, e-books and e-audiobooks, in-building Wi-Fi, and the Library website. The Library quickly engaged forensic specialists and law enforcement to assess the nature and impacts of the event. Despite the disruption, the Library’s physical locations across Seattle remained open for patrons to access print books and other physical materials through paper forms.
Due to the attack, the Library is unable to check physical materials back into its catalog, so it advised patrons to hold onto materials a little longer as no daily late fines are charged for overdue materials. The privacy and security of patron and employee information are top priorities for the Library, which is why systems will remain offline until security has been restored. There is currently no timeline for when that might happen. The cyberattack on the Seattle Public Library is just one of many high-profile cybersecurity incidents happening in the U.S., with other notable attacks affecting organizations like Christie’s art auction house, Ascension health system, and Change Healthcare, the nation’s largest health care payment system, causing financial chaos.
The ransomware gang RansomHub claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Christie’s, stealing 2 gigabytes worth of information, including sensitive data from at least 500,000 private clients. Ascension, one of the largest health systems in the U.S., also fell victim to a cyberattack that impacted access to digital records across more than a dozen states, forcing doctors and nurses to use paper and handwritten treatment orders to chart patient illnesses and track them. Change Healthcare, the largest health care payment system in the U.S., was similarly targeted earlier in the year in an attack that paralyzed its operations and caused financial disruptions.
The Seattle Public Library is taking steps to restore security to its systems and protect patron and employee data following the ransomware attack. While the online services remain disrupted, the physical locations of the Library are still open to patrons, offering access to print books and other materials through manual checkout processes. The Library assures patrons that due dates for materials will be updated once systems are back online, and no daily late fines will be charged during this time. The cyberattack on the Seattle Public Library highlights the growing threat of cybercrime and the importance of maintaining strong cybersecurity measures in today’s digital world.
In response to the ransomware attack, the Seattle Public Library took its systems offline and engaged forensic specialists and law enforcement to assess the nature and impacts of the event. This move was made to protect the privacy and security of patron and employee information, which are top priorities for the Library. The disruption caused by the cyberattack is just one of many instances of cybersecurity incidents affecting organizations nationwide, including prominent institutions like Christie’s, Ascension, and Change Healthcare. As the Library works to restore security to its systems, patrons are encouraged to hold onto physical materials a bit longer and assured that no daily late fines will be charged for overdue items.
The cyberattack on the Seattle Public Library demonstrates the serious implications of ransomware attacks on organizations, highlighting the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect against such threats. The attack disrupted online services at the Library, including access to staff and public computers, e-books and e-audiobooks, in-building Wi-Fi, and the Library website. With no timetable for when systems will be back online, the Library remains open at its physical locations in Seattle, offering patrons access to print books and other materials through manual processes. The incident serves as a reminder of the growing threat of cybercrime and the importance of maintaining vigilance and security in the face of evolving cybersecurity risks.
