Met latest: Peter Gelb battles major cyber attack, likely Russian
NewsThe Metropolitan Opera’s website has been down now for two full days due to what was initially described, with classic Gelb evasiveness, as ‘network issues’.
We kept hearing otherwise.
It has now been confirmed that the Met came under a massive bot attack, apparently from a Russian source. The Met has been taken offline, unable to sell tickets or communicate for 48 hours.
At 3:22 pm yesterday, Gelb shared this email with company members:
Dear Members of the Company,
Unfortunately, we’ve experienced a cyber attack that has temporarily impacted our network systems. Upon discovery of this, we launched an immediate investigation into the nature and scope of the incident. While web experts work to resolve the situation, our systems are down. It will take time to restart them, since we first have to make sure that our systems are no longer infected and are secure, This means that for the time being we are unable to process paychecks or use Met email, our Tessitura System, or any of our other internal systems.
Once there has been a fuller assessment of the impact of the attack over the next 24 hours, we will provide an information update. We are working as quickly as possible to get this difficult situation resolved.
Performances and rehearsals will take place as scheduled. Please stay in touch with your department supervisors. We understand how stressful this is for the members of our company, and thank you for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Peter Gelb
The source is suspected to be Russian since Gelb and his wife Keri-Lynn Wilson have been outspoken in their denunciation and boycott of artists who support the Putin invasion of Ukraine. The FBI has been notified and is investigating the source of the attack.
Waiting for the board to praise Peter Gelb’s brilliant leadership through the ransom ware attack that he provoked. At least he’s saving money by not being able to pay the company.
His press people are on it…
Blame the victims often?
Sadly, PG has played the victim card too many times…much like Chicken Little.
Is the suspicion of Russia in this cyberattack an exercise of your editorial freedom or is it based on any fact or statement from the Met?
I unreservedly condemn Russia and their invasion of Ukraine, but I prefer not to deal in unfounded theories that fan flames.
Russian commenters arrive here to denounce Gelb and praise Netrebko and Gergiev in 3…2…1
…0 Gelb deserved a counter attack after needlessly making artists collateral damage.(commentary from the states)
eTicketsBoxOffice is here to support Metropolitan Opera. An attack on one ticketing company, is an attack on all the ticketing industry.
Anna Netrebko sits at her computer hacking the Met ticketing site and cackling…
Is THAT why she can’t sing in Paris ?
She Is ill.
DG, I give you thumbs up for your sarcasm and sense of humor.
So no evidence of Russia in this attack except yours suspicion? You think too much about Russians
maybe this will help you.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/11/russia-and-nearby-states-are-origin-of-most-ransomware-says-uk-cyber-chief
More First World problems. Mon Dieu! L’horreur. Ironically, Anna Netrebko is in Paris rehearsing “La Forza Del Destino” by Verdi, about a woman who is persecuted and killed for a crime she did not commit.
Elle ne chantera pas
This is just the latest in a series of cyber attacks in the USA that have targeted opera companies, hospitals, school districts and casinos, to name but a few organisations. There’s normally a ransom demand along with the threat of releasing financial information and personal details onto the Dark Web, for use by other criminals. There is very little information made public by the targeted organisations, but both the FBI and major insurance companies actively pursue the perpetrators. Based on previous attacks, it will take months for the Met to fully restore all its systems, and in the meantime any employees and/or subscribers should be extra cautious and check for unauthorised amounts coming out of their checking accounts or credit cards……………………..
The Musikverein website has also been down for more than a day. Highly unusual. Coincidence?
Putin is a very convenient scapegoat for a failure to secure your IT systems.
Pity this comes just as the Met is about to have a big success with the HD telecast of The Hours tomorrow – Hopefully the Wednesday repeat will be able to take place.
How does anyone know it isn’t climate activists? Haven’t they recently been making a mess of a department store in London, etc?
How about other cancel-culture types? They may be irritated that the Met and, more recently, Musikverein don’t feature music from non-Western cultures.