South Carolina: Spartanburg Public Library Computer System Hit by Ransomware
Update 8pm Eastern, February 5th
Spartanburg County Public Libraries Website back online with this update:
UPDATE: Our online catalog is now available to check your account, renew or place holds. Full checkout service available at Headquarters Library only. New holds will be processed for pick up at Headquarters only. Branches still require library card for limited checkout. Two items per card per day at branches. Holds may be picked up with picture ID and library card at branches. Still no computer or wireless access currently available. Downloadables and Research Databases should be accessible
Update: 8:00am Eastern, February 1st
We Were Unable to Access the Spartanburg County Public Libraries Website
From GoUpstate.com:
Users of Spartanburg County Public Libraries were unable to check out or return books for a second day Tuesday after a ransomware attack sent out by cybercriminals shut down the library system’s computer network and website.
County Librarian Todd Stephens said technicians were working on the problem and had no idea when services and access to the online catalog will be restored, although the main library and all 10 branches remain open.
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Stephens said he has no intention of meeting the attacker’s demands.
“We don’t believe it is a data breach, we believe it’s a hostage situation” in exchange for releasing all the library’s computer data — which totals about 740,000 physical and online digital items, he said.
Read the Complete Article, View Video
See Also: Spartanburg Library Refuse to Pay Ransomware (via WSPA)
Filed under: Data Files, Libraries, News, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries
About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
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