Solano County Library hit with ransomware attack

Computer systems, borrow records and public WiFi unavailable throughout the library network.

(Stock image)

A ransomware attack has crippled the computer network used by the Solano County Library system, the organization confirmed this week.

In a social media post on Monday, representatives of the Solano County Library affirmed the computer network and public WiFi services were down at all library locations in Solano County, including those in DIxon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Vacaville, Vallejo and Suisun City. The library location in Benicia is unaffected, as it is operated by the City of Benicia.

The incident first occurred late last week when an online hacking collective known as the Medusa Ransomware Group issued a threat on the so-called “Dark Web” to release numerous records stolen from the library system unless Solano County paid a $100,000 ransom by the end of this week.

Cybersecurity researchers and federal law enforcement authorities typically warn against paying such ransoms, saying hacker groups rarely uphold their end of the bargain and typically try to sell stolen data through other channels even when a ransom is paid.

In this case, the precise data stolen from the library’s computer systems are not known, though officials are looking into the possibility that certain information like patron names, home addresses and dates of birth may have been compromised.

Financial information, like credit cards used to pay library fines, are stored in a different system and not believed to be a part of this incident, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The cybersecurity incident is the second to afflict a Solano County organization or business in the past few weeks.

Earlier this month, officials at NorthBay Health affirmed a cybersecurity incident took down public-facing computer networks used to coordinate patient appointments and other services at its hospitals and clinics in Solano County, including Vaca Valley Hospital in Vacaville.