The online services of the Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec (BAnQ) have been interrupted since last weekend due to a computer attack.
The situation is currently under control. “No new infiltration has been detected since the attack which occurred on Friday, explains to the To have to Claire-Hélène Lengellé, media relations manager. No leak of data concerning BAnQ users or services seems to have occurred in the wake of the intrusion. We are currently working to strengthen the security configurations of our site in order to be able to gradually restore services. »
The return to normal should occur early next week. BAnQ appears to be the only government institution affected by the attack. Its spokesperson assures that no ransomware was used and that the hackers therefore did not take control of the data or access to the servers. It was impossible to know the national or international origin of the digital aggression.
This is a first similar intrusion for Library and Archives. In May 2021, a computer attack on the La Place 0-5 site for daycare centers forced the immediate closure of the premises and online services of the Grande Bibliothèque, but also of Hydro-Québec, Loto-Québec, twenty municipalities and even the Canadian Armed Forces. These customers used all the services of the InMedia company such as La Place 0-5.
Reason unknown
“We are not a financial company, comments Mr.me Lengelled. The personal data of our users has not been stolen. So we don’t understand the purpose of this intrusion. »
The security work will continue in the coming days. In the meantime, all of these online services remain unavailable: reservations and access to external digital resources (but the catalog can be consulted); the interlibrary loan service; external digital resources (including digital books); legal deposit; downloading documents from the Service québécois du livre adapted website.
The large library reopens its doors this Tuesday as usual. Its wireless network is not accessible, but it is possible to use the MTLWIFI network. The reservation and renewal of borrowings work at the information desks and borrowing can be done in self-service. You can find out about the services offered on site and currently unavailable on the BAnQ site.
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