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Uffizi Hit by Major Cyberattack, Jewels Moved to Bank
3 Apr
Summary
- Uffizi Galleries suffered a significant cyberattack in early 2026.
- Hackers stole digital archives and demanded ransom from the director.
- Valuable jewels were moved to the Bank of Italy for safekeeping.
In early 2026, the renowned Uffizi Galleries in Florence fell victim to a serious cyberattack.
The incident, reported in early April 2026, saw hackers infiltrate the museum's administrative systems in late January or early February.
Attackers reportedly gained access to servers for the Uffizi, Palazzo Pitti, and Boboli Gardens, allegedly emptying some servers and issuing a ransom demand directly to the director's phone.
Entry codes, passwords, alarm systems, and internal maps were compromised. Most valuable items from the Treasury of the Grand Dukes at Palazzo Pitti were transferred to the Bank of Italy for security.
The full digital archive of the photographic department, accumulated over decades, was also allegedly stolen by the hackers. The Uffizi website indicated the Treasury would be closed for unspecified maintenance.
