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We are the UK’s national library. We give access to the world’s most comprehensive collection of over 170 million items - a living collection that grows every single day. Dating back 3,000 years, the collection includes Shakespeare’s First Folio, Magna Carta, a rare recording of Florence Nightingale and even Sylvia Pankhurst’s poems written on toilet paper from prison… But the collection also includes this morning’s newspapers, blogs and tweets, as well as a copy of every UK domain website. Our collection helps to open up a world of ideas. It can inspire people to start businesses. Spark new works of art and literature. Make scientific discoveries. Visit bl.uk to start your journey of discovery.

The British Library A.I CyberSecurity Scoring

BL

Company Details

Linkedin ID:

the-british-library

Employees number:

1,306

Number of followers:

94,533

NAICS:

51912

Industry Type:

Libraries

Homepage:

bl.uk

IP Addresses:

0

Company ID:

THE_2153552

Scan Status:

In-progress

AI scoreBL Risk Score (AI oriented)

Between 700 and 749

https://images.rankiteo.com/companyimages/the-british-library.jpeg
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XXXX

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BL Libraries
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BL Company CyberSecurity News & History

Past Incidents
2
Attack Types
2
EntityTypeSeverityImpactSeenBlog DetailsIncident DetailsView
British LibraryCyber Attack100510/2023
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the organization’s existence

Description: The British Library, home to over 170 million items including historically significant documents like the Magna Carta, suffered a **major cyber attack in October 2023** that crippled its digital systems. The attack led to the **leak of staff personal details (addresses, passport scans) on the dark web** after the library refused to pay a £600,000 ransom. Two years later, the disruption persists: **services like ebooks, archives, and online journals remain unavailable**, forcing staff to manually process orders, increasing workloads, and exposing them to abuse from frustrated users. Employees, some of whom had experienced domestic abuse, faced severe consequences, including **relocation due to exposed addresses**, constant fraudulent communications, and financial strain. Over **300 staff went on strike** on the attack’s second anniversary, citing below-inflation pay rises (2.4%), unaddressed pay shortfalls, and the emotional toll of sustained operational chaos. The attack’s long-term impact includes **reputational damage, operational paralysis, and ongoing staff exploitation**, with no full system recovery in sight.

British LibraryRansomware10056/2023
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the organization’s existence

Description: The British Library fell victim to a **Rhysida ransomware attack** in **2023**, resulting in the theft of approximately **600GB of sensitive data**. The attack was part of a broader campaign where the Rhysida group, operating under a **Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model**, exploited **poisoned Bing ads** mimicking Microsoft Teams download pages to distribute malware. Victims unknowingly downloaded **OysterLoader and Latrodectus**, which deployed ransomware, backdoors, and infostealers. The breach severely disrupted the library’s operations, compromising internal systems, employee records, and potentially **user data**, including research materials and personal information. The attack underscored the group’s sophistication in leveraging **social engineering and trusted platforms** (Microsoft/Bing) to infiltrate high-profile targets. While the full extent of financial or reputational damage remains undisclosed, the incident aligns with Rhysida’s history of targeting **critical infrastructure, education, and government entities**, often demanding ransoms for decryption keys and stolen data recovery.

British Library
Cyber Attack
Severity: 100
Impact: 5
Seen: 10/2023
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the organization’s existence

Description: The British Library, home to over 170 million items including historically significant documents like the Magna Carta, suffered a **major cyber attack in October 2023** that crippled its digital systems. The attack led to the **leak of staff personal details (addresses, passport scans) on the dark web** after the library refused to pay a £600,000 ransom. Two years later, the disruption persists: **services like ebooks, archives, and online journals remain unavailable**, forcing staff to manually process orders, increasing workloads, and exposing them to abuse from frustrated users. Employees, some of whom had experienced domestic abuse, faced severe consequences, including **relocation due to exposed addresses**, constant fraudulent communications, and financial strain. Over **300 staff went on strike** on the attack’s second anniversary, citing below-inflation pay rises (2.4%), unaddressed pay shortfalls, and the emotional toll of sustained operational chaos. The attack’s long-term impact includes **reputational damage, operational paralysis, and ongoing staff exploitation**, with no full system recovery in sight.

British Library
Ransomware
Severity: 100
Impact: 5
Seen: 6/2023
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the organization’s existence

Description: The British Library fell victim to a **Rhysida ransomware attack** in **2023**, resulting in the theft of approximately **600GB of sensitive data**. The attack was part of a broader campaign where the Rhysida group, operating under a **Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model**, exploited **poisoned Bing ads** mimicking Microsoft Teams download pages to distribute malware. Victims unknowingly downloaded **OysterLoader and Latrodectus**, which deployed ransomware, backdoors, and infostealers. The breach severely disrupted the library’s operations, compromising internal systems, employee records, and potentially **user data**, including research materials and personal information. The attack underscored the group’s sophistication in leveraging **social engineering and trusted platforms** (Microsoft/Bing) to infiltrate high-profile targets. While the full extent of financial or reputational damage remains undisclosed, the incident aligns with Rhysida’s history of targeting **critical infrastructure, education, and government entities**, often demanding ransoms for decryption keys and stolen data recovery.

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Cyber Incidents Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

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Incident Predictions locked
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A.I Risk Score Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

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Underwriter Stats for BL

Incidents vs Libraries Industry Average (This Year)

No incidents recorded for The British Library in 2025.

Incidents vs All-Companies Average (This Year)

No incidents recorded for The British Library in 2025.

Incident Types BL vs Libraries Industry Avg (This Year)

No incidents recorded for The British Library in 2025.

Incident History — BL (X = Date, Y = Severity)

BL cyber incidents detection timeline including parent company and subsidiaries

BL Company Subsidiaries

SubsidiaryImage

We are the UK’s national library. We give access to the world’s most comprehensive collection of over 170 million items - a living collection that grows every single day. Dating back 3,000 years, the collection includes Shakespeare’s First Folio, Magna Carta, a rare recording of Florence Nightingale and even Sylvia Pankhurst’s poems written on toilet paper from prison… But the collection also includes this morning’s newspapers, blogs and tweets, as well as a copy of every UK domain website. Our collection helps to open up a world of ideas. It can inspire people to start businesses. Spark new works of art and literature. Make scientific discoveries. Visit bl.uk to start your journey of discovery.

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BL CyberSecurity News

December 02, 2025 11:15 PM
Don’t rely on government to save the British Library

Following a catastrophic hack British Library remains in crisis. Can it recover by refocusing on the people, skills and systems that enable...

November 16, 2025 08:00 AM
Five major changes to the regulation of cybersecurity in the UK under the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill

As the UK Government has recognized, cyber incidents—such as Jaguar Land Rover, Marks and Spencer, Royal Mail and the British Library—are...

October 14, 2025 07:00 AM
‘Critical gaps persist’: How to safeguard your organisation in an evolving cybersecurity landscape

The cybersecurity landscape has changed dramatically in the last few years. Organisations now depend heavily on cloud-based systems accessed...

September 25, 2025 07:00 AM
Digital ID cards: a versatile and useful tool or a worrying cybersecurity risk?

As Keir Starmer aims to revive ID card system first proposed by Tony Blair, we look at the arguments for and against.

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Why the UK’s clampdown on ransomware could have unintended consequences

If you can't beat them, ban them. The UK is clamping down against ransomware attacks by proceeding with a ban that would forbid public...

July 30, 2025 07:00 AM
UK cybersecurity workers are overworked, overwhelmed, and burning out faster than global counterparts — here's why

UK cybersecurity workers are burning out faster than ever due to rising operational pressure, growing risk complexity, and heightened board...

July 22, 2025 07:00 AM
New UK law would ban ransomware payments by publicly funded orgs

Hard-hit Britain aims to remove financial incentives for cybercrime, but experts are split on effectiveness.

July 17, 2025 07:00 AM
Charting the Future: Regulatory Milestones and Opportunities in AI, Online Safety, Cybersecurity, and Data Governance in the EU and the UK

This article highlights the key milestones for the next 12 months, focusing on four main areas: online safety, AI, data governance, and cybersecurity and...

July 08, 2025 07:00 AM
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faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.

BL CyberSecurity History Information

Official Website of The British Library

The official website of The British Library is http://www.bl.uk.

The British Library’s AI-Generated Cybersecurity Score

According to Rankiteo, The British Library’s AI-generated cybersecurity score is 703, reflecting their Moderate security posture.

How many security badges does The British Library’ have ?

According to Rankiteo, The British Library currently holds 0 security badges, indicating that no recognized compliance certifications are currently verified for the organization.

Does The British Library have SOC 2 Type 1 certification ?

According to Rankiteo, The British Library is not certified under SOC 2 Type 1.

Does The British Library have SOC 2 Type 2 certification ?

According to Rankiteo, The British Library does not hold a SOC 2 Type 2 certification.

Does The British Library comply with GDPR ?

According to Rankiteo, The British Library is not listed as GDPR compliant.

Does The British Library have PCI DSS certification ?

According to Rankiteo, The British Library does not currently maintain PCI DSS compliance.

Does The British Library comply with HIPAA ?

According to Rankiteo, The British Library is not compliant with HIPAA regulations.

Does The British Library have ISO 27001 certification ?

According to Rankiteo,The British Library is not certified under ISO 27001, indicating the absence of a formally recognized information security management framework.

Industry Classification of The British Library

The British Library operates primarily in the Libraries industry.

Number of Employees at The British Library

The British Library employs approximately 1,306 people worldwide.

Subsidiaries Owned by The British Library

The British Library presently has no subsidiaries across any sectors.

The British Library’s LinkedIn Followers

The British Library’s official LinkedIn profile has approximately 94,533 followers.

NAICS Classification of The British Library

The British Library is classified under the NAICS code 51912, which corresponds to Libraries and Archives.

The British Library’s Presence on Crunchbase

No, The British Library does not have a profile on Crunchbase.

The British Library’s Presence on LinkedIn

Yes, The British Library maintains an official LinkedIn profile, which is actively utilized for branding and talent engagement, which can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-british-library.

Cybersecurity Incidents Involving The British Library

As of December 16, 2025, Rankiteo reports that The British Library has experienced 2 cybersecurity incidents.

Number of Peer and Competitor Companies

The British Library has an estimated 1,286 peer or competitor companies worldwide.

What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at The British Library ?

Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred include Cyber Attack and Ransomware.

How does The British Library detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents ?

Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through an containment measures with refusal to pay £600,000 ransom, containment measures with manual workflows implemented, and remediation measures with partial system restoration (digital forms for orders), remediation measures with ongoing recovery efforts, and recovery measures with gradual service restoration, recovery measures with negotiations with trade unions, and communication strategy with public acknowledgment of impact, communication strategy with union engagements for pay disputes, and third party assistance with expel (security researchers), and communication strategy with public disclosure via the register/techradar..

Incident Details

Can you provide details on each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack

Title: British Library Cyber Attack (October 2023)

Description: A major cyber attack in October 2023 disrupted the British Library's digital systems, leading to the leak of staff personal details on the dark web. The attack caused prolonged operational chaos, manual workflows, and increased workload for staff. The library refused to pay a £600,000 ransom, resulting in ongoing disruptions, fraudulent communications, and staff strikes over pay disputes two years later.

Date Detected: October 2023

Date Publicly Disclosed: October 2023

Type: Cyber Attack

Motivation: Financial (ransom demand)Disruption

Incident : malware distribution

Title: Rhysida ransomware group spoofs Microsoft Teams ads on Bing to deliver OysterLoader and Latrodectus malware

Description: The Rhysida ransomware group conducted a malware distribution campaign by spoofing Microsoft Teams download ads on Bing. Victims searching for Microsoft Teams were redirected to fake download pages that deployed OysterLoader and Latrodectus malware, which can deliver ransomware, backdoors, and infostealers. The group operates on a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model and has previously targeted airports, libraries, and U.S. school districts.

Date Detected: 2025-06

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-07

Type: malware distribution

Attack Vector: malvertisingspoofed adsfake download pages.LNK file abuse

Threat Actor: Rhysida ransomware group

Motivation: financial gainransomware deploymentdata theft

What are the most common types of attacks the company has faced ?

Common Attack Types: The most common types of attacks the company has faced is Cyber Attack.

How does the company identify the attack vectors used in incidents ?

Identification of Attack Vectors: The company identifies the attack vectors used in incidents through spoofed Bing adsfake Microsoft Teams download pages.

Impact of the Incidents

What was the impact of each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Data Compromised: Staff personal details (addresses, passport scans), Operational data

Systems Affected: Digital ordering systemsEbooksArchives and manuscripts catalogueOnline journal articlesLibrary management systems

Downtime: Ongoing (2+ years as of 2025)

Operational Impact: Manual workflows (paper-based orders)Increased staff workloadService unavailabilityStaff abuse from frustrated usersStrikes due to pay disputes

Customer Complaints: ['User frustration', 'Abuse toward front-facing staff', 'Physical objects thrown at staff']

Brand Reputation Impact: Negative publicityStaff dissatisfactionPublic criticism over pay disputes

Identity Theft Risk: ['Fraudulent calls/emails/texts to staff', 'Exposed addresses/passport scans on dark web']

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Brand Reputation Impact: potential reputational damage to Microsoft/Bing due to spoofed ads

Identity Theft Risk: ['high (due to infostealers)']

What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents ?

Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Personally Identifiable Information (Pii), Employment Records, Passport Scans, Addresses and .

Which entities were affected by each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Entity Name: British Library

Entity Type: National Library

Industry: Culture/Education

Location: London, UK

Size: Large (170+ million items, 300+ staff on strike)

Customers Affected: Library users (global), staff (300+)

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Entity Name: Microsoft (Bing/Microsoft Teams spoofing)

Entity Type: technology corporation

Industry: software/technology

Location: global

Size: large-scale enterprise

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Entity Name: Unspecified victims (users clicking spoofed ads)

Entity Type: individuals, organizations

Location: global

Response to the Incidents

What measures were taken in response to each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Containment Measures: Refusal to pay £600,000 ransomManual workflows implemented

Remediation Measures: Partial system restoration (digital forms for orders)Ongoing recovery efforts

Recovery Measures: Gradual service restorationNegotiations with trade unions

Communication Strategy: Public acknowledgment of impactUnion engagements for pay disputes

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Third Party Assistance: Expel (Security Researchers).

Communication Strategy: public disclosure via The Register/TechRadar

How does the company involve third-party assistance in incident response ?

Third-Party Assistance: The company involves third-party assistance in incident response through Expel (security researchers), .

Data Breach Information

What type of data was compromised in each breach ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Type of Data Compromised: Personally identifiable information (pii), Employment records, Passport scans, Addresses

Sensitivity of Data: High (PII, government-issued IDs)

File Types Exposed: Database recordsScanned documents (passports)

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Data Exfiltration: potential (via infostealers/backdoors)

Personally Identifiable Information: potential (via infostealers)

What measures does the company take to prevent data exfiltration ?

Prevention of Data Exfiltration: The company takes the following measures to prevent data exfiltration: Partial system restoration (digital forms for orders), Ongoing recovery efforts, .

How does the company handle incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) ?

Handling of PII Incidents: The company handles incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) through by refusal to pay £600,000 ransom, manual workflows implemented and .

Ransomware Information

Was ransomware involved in any of the incidents ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Ransom Demanded: £600,000

Data Encryption: True

Data Exfiltration: True

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Ransomware Strain: Rhysidapotential secondary ransomware via OysterLoader/Latrodectus

Data Encryption: ['potential (via ransomware payloads)']

Data Exfiltration: ['potential (via infostealers/backdoors)']

How does the company recover data encrypted by ransomware ?

Data Recovery from Ransomware: The company recovers data encrypted by ransomware through Gradual service restoration, Negotiations with trade unions, .

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

What lessons were learned from each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Lessons Learned: Critical reliance on digital systems in modern libraries, Need for robust incident response and staff support, Long-term operational impacts of ransomware refusal, Importance of addressing staff welfare post-breach

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Lessons Learned: Malvertising campaigns exploiting trusted brands (e.g., Microsoft Teams) and search engines (Bing) can effectively bypass user skepticism. Continuous monitoring of ad networks and proactive takedowns of spoofed pages are critical to mitigating such threats. Users should verify download sources and avoid clicking on ads, even from reputable platforms.

What recommendations were made to prevent future incidents ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Recommendations: Invest in cyber resilience and backup systems, Improve staff compensation and mental health support, Enhance dark web monitoring for leaked data, Accelerate system restoration to reduce manual workloads, Transparency in post-incident communicationsInvest in cyber resilience and backup systems, Improve staff compensation and mental health support, Enhance dark web monitoring for leaked data, Accelerate system restoration to reduce manual workloads, Transparency in post-incident communicationsInvest in cyber resilience and backup systems, Improve staff compensation and mental health support, Enhance dark web monitoring for leaked data, Accelerate system restoration to reduce manual workloads, Transparency in post-incident communicationsInvest in cyber resilience and backup systems, Improve staff compensation and mental health support, Enhance dark web monitoring for leaked data, Accelerate system restoration to reduce manual workloads, Transparency in post-incident communicationsInvest in cyber resilience and backup systems, Improve staff compensation and mental health support, Enhance dark web monitoring for leaked data, Accelerate system restoration to reduce manual workloads, Transparency in post-incident communications

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Recommendations: Implement stricter ad verification processes on platforms like Bing to prevent spoofing., Educate users on recognizing fake download pages and verifying URLs before downloading software., Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block malware like OysterLoader and Latrodectus., Monitor dark web/underground forums for signs of Rhysida affiliate activity or stolen data sales., Enhance email/web filtering to block malicious .LNK files and associated payloads.Implement stricter ad verification processes on platforms like Bing to prevent spoofing., Educate users on recognizing fake download pages and verifying URLs before downloading software., Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block malware like OysterLoader and Latrodectus., Monitor dark web/underground forums for signs of Rhysida affiliate activity or stolen data sales., Enhance email/web filtering to block malicious .LNK files and associated payloads.Implement stricter ad verification processes on platforms like Bing to prevent spoofing., Educate users on recognizing fake download pages and verifying URLs before downloading software., Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block malware like OysterLoader and Latrodectus., Monitor dark web/underground forums for signs of Rhysida affiliate activity or stolen data sales., Enhance email/web filtering to block malicious .LNK files and associated payloads.Implement stricter ad verification processes on platforms like Bing to prevent spoofing., Educate users on recognizing fake download pages and verifying URLs before downloading software., Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block malware like OysterLoader and Latrodectus., Monitor dark web/underground forums for signs of Rhysida affiliate activity or stolen data sales., Enhance email/web filtering to block malicious .LNK files and associated payloads.Implement stricter ad verification processes on platforms like Bing to prevent spoofing., Educate users on recognizing fake download pages and verifying URLs before downloading software., Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block malware like OysterLoader and Latrodectus., Monitor dark web/underground forums for signs of Rhysida affiliate activity or stolen data sales., Enhance email/web filtering to block malicious .LNK files and associated payloads.

What are the key lessons learned from past incidents ?

Key Lessons Learned: The key lessons learned from past incidents are Critical reliance on digital systems in modern libraries,Need for robust incident response and staff support,Long-term operational impacts of ransomware refusal,Importance of addressing staff welfare post-breachMalvertising campaigns exploiting trusted brands (e.g., Microsoft Teams) and search engines (Bing) can effectively bypass user skepticism. Continuous monitoring of ad networks and proactive takedowns of spoofed pages are critical to mitigating such threats. Users should verify download sources and avoid clicking on ads, even from reputable platforms.

References

Where can I find more information about each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Source: The Independent

URL: https://www.independent.co.uk

Date Accessed: 2025-10-XX

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Source: TechRadar (via The Register)

URL: https://www.techradar.com

Date Accessed: 2025-07

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Source: Expel (security research)

Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?

Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: The IndependentUrl: https://www.independent.co.ukDate Accessed: 2025-10-XX, and Source: TechRadar (via The Register)Url: https://www.techradar.comDate Accessed: 2025-07, and Source: Expel (security research).

Investigation Status

What is the current status of the investigation for each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Investigation Status: Ongoing (as of 2025)

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Investigation Status: ongoing (as of July 2025)

How does the company communicate the status of incident investigations to stakeholders ?

Communication of Investigation Status: The company communicates the status of incident investigations to stakeholders through Public Acknowledgment Of Impact, Union Engagements For Pay Disputes and Public Disclosure Via The Register/Techradar.

Stakeholder and Customer Advisories

Were there any advisories issued to stakeholders or customers for each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Stakeholder Advisories: Trade Union (Pcs) Engagements, Public Statements On Pay Disputes.

Customer Advisories: Service disruption noticesApologies for prolonged outages

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Customer Advisories: Users advised to avoid clicking on Bing ads for Microsoft Teams and verify download sources.

What advisories does the company provide to stakeholders and customers following an incident ?

Advisories Provided: The company provides the following advisories to stakeholders and customers following an incident: were Trade Union (Pcs) Engagements, Public Statements On Pay Disputes, Service Disruption Notices, Apologies For Prolonged Outages, , Users Advised To Avoid Clicking On Bing Ads For Microsoft Teams And Verify Download Sources. and .

Initial Access Broker

How did the initial access broker gain entry for each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

High Value Targets: Staff Pii, Library Management Systems,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Staff Pii, Library Management Systems,

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Entry Point: Spoofed Bing Ads, Fake Microsoft Teams Download Pages,

Backdoors Established: ['via Latrodectus/OysterLoader']

Post-Incident Analysis

What were the root causes and corrective actions taken for each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack THE4992549110125

Root Causes: Inadequate Cybersecurity Defenses (Specifics Undisclosed), Lack Of Redundant Manual Systems, Delayed Recovery Timeline,

Corrective Actions: Partial System Restorations, Union Negotiations For Staff Pay, Dark Web Monitoring For Leaked Data,

Incident : malware distribution THE2092420110325

Root Causes: Lack Of Ad Verification On Bing Allowing Spoofed Microsoft Teams Ads., User Trust In Branded Ads/Search Results Leading To Clicks On Malicious Links., Effective Use Of .Lnk Files To Bypass Initial Security Controls.,

Corrective Actions: Bing/Microsoft To Implement Stricter Ad Vetting For Branded Keywords (E.G., 'Microsoft Teams')., Security Awareness Training For Users On Identifying Malvertising., Proactive Hunting For Rhysida-Affiliated Malware (Oysterloader, Latrodectus) In Enterprise Environments.,

What is the company's process for conducting post-incident analysis ?

Post-Incident Analysis Process: The company's process for conducting post-incident analysis is described as Expel (Security Researchers), .

What corrective actions has the company taken based on post-incident analysis ?

Corrective Actions Taken: The company has taken the following corrective actions based on post-incident analysis: Partial System Restorations, Union Negotiations For Staff Pay, Dark Web Monitoring For Leaked Data, , Bing/Microsoft To Implement Stricter Ad Vetting For Branded Keywords (E.G., 'Microsoft Teams')., Security Awareness Training For Users On Identifying Malvertising., Proactive Hunting For Rhysida-Affiliated Malware (Oysterloader, Latrodectus) In Enterprise Environments., .

Additional Questions

General Information

What was the amount of the last ransom demanded ?

Last Ransom Demanded: The amount of the last ransom demanded was £600,000.

Who was the attacking group in the last incident ?

Last Attacking Group: The attacking group in the last incident was an Rhysida ransomware group.

Incident Details

What was the most recent incident detected ?

Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on October 2023.

What was the most recent incident publicly disclosed ?

Most Recent Incident Publicly Disclosed: The most recent incident publicly disclosed was on 2025-07.

Impact of the Incidents

What was the most significant data compromised in an incident ?

Most Significant Data Compromised: The most significant data compromised in an incident were Staff personal details (addresses, passport scans), Operational data and .

What was the most significant system affected in an incident ?

Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident was Digital ordering systemsEbooksArchives and manuscripts catalogueOnline journal articlesLibrary management systems.

Response to the Incidents

What third-party assistance was involved in the most recent incident ?

Third-Party Assistance in Most Recent Incident: The third-party assistance involved in the most recent incident was expel (security researchers), .

What containment measures were taken in the most recent incident ?

Containment Measures in Most Recent Incident: The containment measures taken in the most recent incident were Refusal to pay £600 and000 ransomManual workflows implemented.

Data Breach Information

What was the most sensitive data compromised in a breach ?

Most Sensitive Data Compromised: The most sensitive data compromised in a breach were Operational data, Staff personal details (addresses and passport scans).

Ransomware Information

What was the highest ransom demanded in a ransomware incident ?

Highest Ransom Demanded: The highest ransom demanded in a ransomware incident was £600,000.

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

What was the most significant lesson learned from past incidents ?

Most Significant Lesson Learned: The most significant lesson learned from past incidents was Importance of addressing staff welfare post-breach, Malvertising campaigns exploiting trusted brands (e.g., Microsoft Teams) and search engines (Bing) can effectively bypass user skepticism. Continuous monitoring of ad networks and proactive takedowns of spoofed pages are critical to mitigating such threats. Users should verify download sources and avoid clicking on ads, even from reputable platforms.

What was the most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity ?

Most Significant Recommendation Implemented: The most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity was Monitor dark web/underground forums for signs of Rhysida affiliate activity or stolen data sales., Educate users on recognizing fake download pages and verifying URLs before downloading software., Transparency in post-incident communications, Enhance email/web filtering to block malicious .LNK files and associated payloads., Improve staff compensation and mental health support, Accelerate system restoration to reduce manual workloads, Implement stricter ad verification processes on platforms like Bing to prevent spoofing., Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block malware like OysterLoader and Latrodectus., Enhance dark web monitoring for leaked data and Invest in cyber resilience and backup systems.

References

What is the most recent source of information about an incident ?

Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident are The Independent, TechRadar (via The Register) and Expel (security research).

What is the most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?

Most Recent URL for Additional Resources: The most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices is https://www.independent.co.uk, https://www.techradar.com .

Investigation Status

What is the current status of the most recent investigation ?

Current Status of Most Recent Investigation: The current status of the most recent investigation is Ongoing (as of 2025).

Stakeholder and Customer Advisories

What was the most recent stakeholder advisory issued ?

Most Recent Stakeholder Advisory: The most recent stakeholder advisory issued was Trade union (PCS) engagements, Public statements on pay disputes, .

What was the most recent customer advisory issued ?

Most Recent Customer Advisory: The most recent customer advisory issued were an Service disruption noticesApologies for prolonged outages and Users advised to avoid clicking on Bing ads for Microsoft Teams and verify download sources.

Initial Access Broker

Post-Incident Analysis

What was the most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis ?

Most Significant Root Cause: The most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis was Inadequate cybersecurity defenses (specifics undisclosed)Lack of redundant manual systemsDelayed recovery timeline, Lack of ad verification on Bing allowing spoofed Microsoft Teams ads.User trust in branded ads/search results leading to clicks on malicious links.Effective use of .LNK files to bypass initial security controls..

What was the most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis ?

Most Significant Corrective Action: The most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis was Partial system restorationsUnion negotiations for staff payDark web monitoring for leaked data, Bing/Microsoft to implement stricter ad vetting for branded keywords (e.g., 'Microsoft Teams').Security awareness training for users on identifying malvertising.Proactive hunting for Rhysida-affiliated malware (OysterLoader, Latrodectus) in enterprise environments..

cve

Latest Global CVEs (Not Company-Specific)

Description

Hitachi Vantara Pentaho Data Integration and Analytics Community Dashboard Framework prior to versions 10.2.0.4, including 9.3.0.x and 8.3.x display the full server stack trace when encountering an error within the GetCdfResource servlet.

Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 5.3
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Description

Pentaho Data Integration and Analytics Community Dashboard Editor plugin versions before 10.2.0.4, including 9.3.0.x and 8.3.x, deserialize untrusted JSON data without constraining the parser to approved classes and methods.

Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 8.8
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description

A security flaw has been discovered in CTCMS Content Management System up to 2.1.2. The impacted element is an unknown function in the library /ctcms/libs/Ct_Config.php of the component Backend System Configuration Module. The manipulation of the argument Cj_Add/Cj_Edit results in code injection. The attack can be executed remotely. The exploit has been released to the public and may be exploited.

Risk Information
cvss2
Base: 5.8
Severity: LOW
AV:N/AC:L/Au:M/C:P/I:P/A:P
cvss3
Base: 4.7
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
cvss4
Base: 5.1
Severity: LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Description

A vulnerability was identified in CTCMS Content Management System up to 2.1.2. The affected element is the function Save of the file /ctcms/libs/Ct_App.php of the component Backend App Configuration Module. The manipulation of the argument CT_App_Paytype leads to code injection. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. The exploit is publicly available and might be used.

Risk Information
cvss2
Base: 5.8
Severity: LOW
AV:N/AC:L/Au:M/C:P/I:P/A:P
cvss3
Base: 4.7
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
cvss4
Base: 5.1
Severity: LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Description

Weblate is a web based localization tool. In versions prior to 5.15, it was possible to accept an invitation opened by a different user. Version 5.15. contains a patch. As a workaround, avoid leaving one's Weblate sessions with an invitation opened unattended.

Risk Information
cvss4
Base: 1.0
Severity: HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

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Network Security

Identify exposed access points, detect misconfigured SSL certificates, and uncover vulnerabilities across the network infrastructure.

SBOM (Software Bill of Materials)

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CMDB (Configuration Management Database)

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