Hamilton library computers, other services remain down, 3 months after ransomware attack [Video]

Three months after a ransomware attack on the City of Hamilton’s systems, public computers remain shut down across all of Hamilton Public Library’s 23 branches with no certain timeline of when the popular service will be restored. 

Library computer use along with other services, such as printing and online holds, were suspended when cyber criminals launched the attack on Feb. 25.

In response, the library followed the city’s lead and “shut down everything” to ensure the impacts didn’t spread, said chief librarian and CEO Paul Takala.  

Since then the library has restored some services — like its free WiFi — while IT staff build a more secure network, which will allow staff to turn back on the public computers, Takala said. 

How long that will take is unknown, said Takala.

“It’s not really helpful for us to speculate,” he said. “I would hope it’s going to be fairly soon, but we have to be very careful. We can’t commit …