Library of Congress Reports Cyber Breach

The Library of Congress confirmed a significant cyber breach attributed to a 'foreign adversary,' affecting email communications between library staff and congressional offices from January to September 2024. Although the specific details about the attacker remain undisclosed, the Library has mitigated the exploited vulnerability and is conducting an analysis of the incident. While the breach did compromise some email communications, it did not impact the IT networks or email accounts of the House and Senate, nor the U.S. Copyright Office systems. Law enforcement, including the FBI, is investigating the breach, and the Library plans to inform affected congressional offices and staff. This incident raises concerns about the security of government institutions, following similar attacks on national libraries elsewhere, such as the British Library in 2023. The Library of Congress, as the largest library globally, plays a crucial role in serving the research needs of Congress and houses a vast collection of materials.