The British Museum experienced an IT attack, that caused temporary closure of several exhibits.
The British Museum cyberattack was allegedly perpetrated by a former IT contractor who was dismissed last week.
A spokesperson for the British Museum stated, “An IT contractor who was dismissed last week trespassed into the museum and shut down several of our systems. Police attended and he was arrested at the scene.”
This cyberattack by ex-worker resulted in the museum’s ticketing system to malfunction. Consequently, only pre-booked visitors and members could access the exhibits.
The Metropolitan Police was called to the museum on Thursday evening following reports of a man causing damage to security and IT systems. A man in his 50s was arrested and later bailed. The IT attack led to the closure of three exhibitions over the weekend.
An email to museum members announced the reopening of the exhibitions, stating, “The closures over the past days will have been disappointing and frustrating, and we are very sorry if your planned visit was impacted.”
The email also promised additional viewing opportunities and offered refunds to affected ticket holders.
The Take Away from British Museum IT Attack
This incident shows just how important strong identity management policies are. They’re crucial to stop former employees from accessing systems after their contracts end.
The British Museum cyberattack is a reminder that cultural institutions can also be vulnerable to cyberattacks. That is often because they haven’t invested enough in cybersecurity because one would think what interest hackers might possibly have in a museum.
However, museums handle lots of sensitive customer data, making them tempting targets for ransomware and other attacks. The attack highlights the need for better cybersecurity, even for organizations that might not think of themselves as prime targets.
This British Museum IT attack shows what happens when security isn’t a top priority—it can have serious consequences. Proactive security measures are essential to protect vital systems and data.