Since the title was too long for a thread title:
Internet Archive hack a signal that cultural institutions are cyber criminals' newest target
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According to Victoria Lemieux, a professor of archival science at the University of British Columbia, this attack reflects a concerning trend.
"In the past year, there has been a notable rise in cyberattacks targeting libraries, typically in the public sector," said Lemieux.
A cyberattack on the Calgary Public Library on Oct. 11 forced all of its 22 branches to shut down. In April, a hacker targeted libraries in British Columbia and warned that user data will be exposed unless a ransom was paid. And in October 2023, hackers disrupted services and stole employee data from the Toronto Public Library.
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Lemieux says places in the GLAM sector — galleries, libraries, archives and museums — have become more susceptible to sophisticated hacking attempts. But compared to other sectors, like banks, their security infrastructure is not as robust.
"Hackers have figured out that municipalities and cultural institutions don't have the money to upgrade their infrastructure…. They don't have sophisticated technical staff," she said.
"They're sitting ducks."
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