N.S. teachers, students, health-care workers impacted by cyber attack
Nova Scotia says it has identified more details about the records stolen in a file transfer service cyber attack, impacting teachers, students and health care workers' records.
As many as 100,000 Nova Scotians' are estimated to have had personal information stolen due to a privacy breach affecting the file transfer software MOVEit, the province said Tuesday.
The province said in a statement Friday that the breach includes about 55,000 records of past and present teachers in the province, records of 26,000 students over the age of 16 and records of 5,000 short-term housing accommodations owners that are registered with the Tourist Accommodations Registry.
Also impacted by the cyber attack are 3,800 people who applied for jobs with Nova Scotia Health, about 1,400 Nova Scotia pension recipients and 1,085 people who have been issued parking tickets in Halifax.
"I know that providing more detailed information will cause more concern and questions. No individual or organization is immune from cyber threats or theft," Cyber Security and Digital Solutions Minister Colton LeBlanc said Friday.
"I strongly encourage Nova Scotians to reach out to their financial institution to flag the risk. We will continue to provide updates on what we are learning through our investigation."
Minister of Services Nova Scotia Colton LeBlanc speaks during a news conference at Province House in Halifax on Wednesday March 22, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lyndsay Armstrong)It will be hard to understand the number of individual Nova Scotians who are impacted by the cyber attack, because multiple accessed records could belong to the same person, the province said.
“For example, someone who is a certified teacher could be working as a civil service employee and have received a parking ticket,” said the statement.
“The government's priority is to assess the extent of the breach and notify those impacted.”
According to a letter sent to students and parents from the Halifax Regional Centre for Education Friday afternoon, personal information of students aged 16-18 as of Jan. 31, 2023 may have been taken in the breach. This information was in the province’s database because it was shared with Elections Nova Scotia for voting pre-registration.
Students’ full names, gender, date of birth, school they attended, student ID, civic address and mailing address may have been accessed. This breach does not include social insurance numbers or banking information.
BREACH DETAILS
- about 55,000 records of past and present certified and permitted teachers in Nova Scotia, including name, address, date of birth, years of service and educational background. The information does not include social insurance numbers or banking information. The list includes people born in 1935 or later.
- about 26,000 students, aged 16 years and older, including date of birth, gender, student ID and school. This information was in the database because it was shared with Elections Nova Scotia.
- about 5,000 short-term accommodations owners in the Tourist Accommodations Registry. The information stolen included name, owner's address, property address and registration number.
- about 3,800 people who applied for jobs with Nova Scotia Health, including their demographic data and employment details. Social insurance numbers were not included.
- about 1,400 Nova Scotia pension plan recipients. Their names, social insurance numbers, dates of birth and demographic data were stolen.
- 1,085 people issued Halifax Regional Municipality parking tickets. Names, addresses and licence plate numbers were stolen.
- about 500 people in provincial adult correctional facilities; name, date of birth, gender, prisoner ID number and status in the justice system were stolen.
- about 100 Nova Scotia Health vendors, including product and pricing information. Vendors' banking information does not appear to be included.
- 54 people issued summary offence tickets; names, driver's licence numbers and dates of birth were stolen.
- 54 clients of the Department of Community Services, including names, addresses, client ID and transit pass photos.
- about 1,330 people in the Department of Health and Wellness client registry, including name, address, date of birth, and health card number.
- at least 150 people in the Department of Health and Wellness provider registry, including doctors, specialists, nurses and optometrists. Assessments are ongoing. The information taken includes names, addresses and dates of birth. It does not include social insurance number or banking information.
- about 60 people with the Prescription Monitoring Program, including names, addresses, dates of birth, health card numbers and personal health information.
- 41 newborns born between May 19 and 26. Information stolen includes last name, health card number, date of birth and date of discharge. Parents will be notified.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.