A cyber attack targeting the British Library has led to a leak of employee data, the institution said.
The Rhysida ransomware group has claimed it has access to passports along with other data files.
The group said it has started bidding in an auction for access at 20 bitcoin (around £600,000) on an online site.
The British Library, which has one of the largest book collections in the world, previously reported that a “major technology outage” had hit online services, public wifi at the site and its website.
It said in October that the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and cybersecurity specialists were investigating.
On Tuesday, an NCSC spokesperson said: “We are working with the British Library to fully understand the impact of an incident.
“Ransomware is the key cyber threat facing the UK, and all organisations should take immediate steps to limit risk by following our advice on how to put in place robust defences to protect their networks.”
The British Library, near St Pancras railway station, remains open and visitors can access the reading rooms for personal…
