The Seattle Public Library's online services became the latest victim in the series of ransomware attacks on public establishments and services in Western countries.
In a blog post on Tuesday, the library confirmed a "ransomware event" on its technological systems, impacting its computers, online loaning platform, and e-books.
Its public Wi-Fi connection and official website also shut down following the attack. Library officials have already contacted third-party forensic specialists and law enforcement to investigate the service disruption.
The attack was first noted last Saturday during the Memorial Day weekend. The Seattle library has yet to report a confirmed ransom demand from the attack.
All digital systems will remain offline "until we can ensure the security of these systems."
People can still go to the actual Seattle Public Library at 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, Washington.
More Public Libraries Hit by Ransomware Attacks
The cyberattack on the Seattle Public Library is the second major ransomware event reported in the past 12 months as threat actors move to public utility services.
Last October, the British Library was attacked by the Russian cybercriminal group Rhysidia as the library's online systems, including employees' private data, were accessed.
It took the library nearly six months to restore at least half of its digital servers with several systems remaining unavailable as the library tries to increase cyber-defenses for its platforms.
In the US, the last reported cyberattack on a library was in 2021 with the Boston Public Library after it noted a "systemwide technical outage."
It is uncertain if the Boston Library paid the hackers to restore the stolen data.
Ransomware Attacks Continue to Surge in the US
The ransomware attacks on the libraries follow the continued rise of financially motivated cyberattacks reported since last year.
According to digital research group Chainalyis, last year was the biggest haul for ransomware groups as the attacks reportedly cost companies roughly $1.1 billion despite ramped up law enforcement efforts.
So far, the attacks have made their way into healthcare and financial sectors where threat actors can earn billions of dollars from their targets.
Related Article : Ransomware Attacks Stole Over $1.1 Billion from Companies in 2023
