Ontario's London Public Library branches closed until New Year after cyberattack

Multiple essential systems are currently inaccessible at the Canadian library

The London Public Library (LPL), a prominent institution serving thousands of residents in Ontario, Canada, continues to grapple with the aftermath of a cyberattack last week, with the announcement that three of its branches will remain closed until 2nd January 2024.

The Cardon, Glanworth and Lambeth locations are affected by the extended closure following the cyber incident that paralysed most of the library's systems on Wednesday.

Library officials confirmed the next day that the institution fell victim to a cyberattack by hackers, prompting the shutdown of most of the library's systems.

As a result of the outage, multiple essential systems are currently inaccessible at the library, including the library website and catalogue, Wi-Fi, computers and printing services, email and phones, digital resources, and the ability to place holds on books.

However, in-person borrowing, library programmes and access to library spaces remain open and accessible to the public, providing some continuity of services amidst the ongoing recovery efforts.

An investigation is currently underway, with experts engaged to determine the extent of the cyber incident.

The library acknowledged the time-consuming nature of the recovery process, stating, "We expect that it will take some time before our systems can be restored."

The London Public Library continues to provide regular updates through its social media channels.

Ellen Hobin, communications manager at the LPL, said: "We understand... that this is very frustrating, and we're sorry. But come in and see us. We're here and we would really appreciate talking to you and connecting with you in person and finding you a book off the shelf."

City Council member Sam Trosow highlighted the crucial role the library plays in the community, particularly for low-income residents who rely on its Wi-Fi as their primary internet access.

Trosow emphasised that the library is not a luxury but a critical piece of infrastructure essential to people's well-being.

The situation highlights the increasing frequency of cyberattacks targeting public institutions, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information and maintain essential services.

In October, the Toronto Public Library, Canada's largest public library system, fell victim to ransomware.

Despite operational challenges, the library refused to pay the ransom, raising concerns about the potential leakage of customer data onto the dark web.

Shortly after the Toronto incident, the British Library, one of the largest in the world, also faced a ransomware attack, experiencing numerous technological disruptions.

Similar attacks have affected major library suppliers, such as Baker & Taylor and a German library service connected to service provider EKZ.

Emsisoft ransomware expert Brett Callow cautioned that while libraries may not seem like lucrative targets, their possession of cyber insurance makes them attractive to hackers.

Callow noted the surge in attacks against libraries globally and underscored the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures within these institutions.