
Last week, the British Museum reported an attack on its IT infrastructure by a dismissed IT contractor. The attacker broke into the premises and disabled several systems, including a ticket booking platform.
The museum itself remained open, but paid exhibitions, such as the Silk Road exhibition, were closed. Visitors who had purchased tickets were sent cancellation notices and offered refunds. According to a museum representative, police arrested the attackers at the scene on suspicion of robbery and destruction of property. It is understood that the attackers did not steal any museum exhibits.
The problem of cybersecurity is acute for cultural institutions in the UK. In 2023, a parliamentary committee warned about the vulnerability of the country’s critical infrastructure to ransomware attacks. A coordinated cyberattack can paralyze entire sectors. The attack on the British Museum highlights the need to strengthen cybersecurity measures, especially in the cultural sector. It is important to ensure the protection of IT infrastructure and prevent similar incidents in the future.