A cybersecurity breach at the British Museum has caused significant disruptions, leading to the temporary closure of several galleries. The incident involved a former contractor who gained unauthorized access and disabled IT systems.
The British Museum, one of the world's most renowned cultural institutions, announced on Saturday the partial closure of several galleries after a cybersecurity breach caused by a former contractor. The incident led to the "shutdown" of its IT systems, impacting museum operations.
"We are working tirelessly to ensure the museum returns to full functionality," a museum spokesperson stated. "However, it is with regret that our temporary exhibitions have been closed today and will remain so throughout the weekend."
The museum, famous for housing treasures such as the Rosetta Stone and the contested Parthenon friezes, confirmed that the ex-contractor involved had been dismissed the previous week. Allegedly, the individual gained unauthorized access to the museum and disabled multiple IT systems. No additional details about the breach were provided.
London's Metropolitan Police reported being alerted to the incident on Thursday at approximately 8:25 PM GMT. According to the museum’s report, the individual had entered the premises and damaged both the security and IT infrastructure. The suspect, a man in his fifties, was promptly arrested but later released on bail pending further investigation, according to a police statement.
On Saturday morning, the museum’s website indicated that while the institution remained open, certain galleries were closed due to IT infrastructure issues. "Visitor capacity has been restricted," the message read, "with priority given to those holding timed-entry tickets."
Parts of the museum’s permanent collection had also been closed on Friday as a direct consequence of the breach, the British press agency PA reported.
The museum has faced significant challenges in recent years, including the theft of over 2,000 artifacts by a former employee, a scandal revealed in August 2023. Some stolen items were reportedly sold on eBay, with internal knowledge of the thefts dating back to 2021. While hundreds of pieces have since been recovered, the scandal led to the resignation of the museum’s former director, Hartwig Fischer. He was succeeded by Nicholas Cullinan, previously the head of the National Portrait Gallery.
Founded in 1753, the British Museum remains the UK’s most visited attraction, offering free entry to its world-class collection.
With AFP
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