Nova Scotians' personal information stolen in global security breach: province
The Nova Scotia government says it is investigating the theft of personal information stolen through a global privacy breach to a third-party file transfer system the province was using.
The province has yet to determine what information may have been taken or how many Nova Scotians could be affected by the breach to software company MoveIt's products, Cyber Security and Digital Solutions Minister Colton LeBlanc said in a Sunday news conference.
"At this time, staff are manually going through all of the files that were accessed to identify what information was stolen and who it belongs to," he said.
"Until all of this work is complete, we aren't able to say how many Nova Scotians have been impacted."
The MoveIt software made by Burlington, Massachusetts-based company Ipswitch allows organizations to transfer files and data between employees, departments and customers.
Progress Software, the parent company of Ipswitch, confirmed a vulnerability in its software last week, saying the issue could lead to potential unauthorized access of users' systems and files.
But the company notified the province of a critical vulnerability within its system on Thursday, LeBlanc said.
The province then took the service offline and installed a security update before bringing it back online Friday, only to be told further investigation was needed. Cyber security experts were then called in.
On Saturday evening.
LeBlanc said the investigation gave the province "a high degree of confidence that yes, there has been a breach of personal information."
"We did not want to wait for all the answers before we told Nova Scotia what we are dealing with," he said.
"I know there are questions we can't answer right now because we're still analyzing the full extent."
LeBlanc would not say which departments had been using MoveIt or whether he was aware of other provinces or territories affected by the breach.
He said the province has informed Tricia Ralph, Nova Scotia's information and privacy commissioner, of the breach and intends to create a website offering the public more information on the situation.
He also promised the province will directly notify Nova Scotians who have been impacted.
"I know that this is a stressful time for many Nova Scotians right now and I want to reassure all Nova Scotians that we are working tirelessly to resolve this issue as quickly and as efficiently as possible," LeBlanc said.
Progress Software did not answer questions about how many Canadians may be affected and what other governments or businesses in the country have used its products.
But it said it promptly launched an investigation after discovering a vulnerbility, alerted customers, provided immediate mitigation steps and developed a security patch within 48 hours.
"We are also continuing to work with industry-leading cybersecurity experts to investigate the issue and ensure we take all appropriate response measures," the company said in an email.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2023.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
DEVELOPING Live updates from the Trump hush money trial: Stormy Daniels, bookkeeper testify
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
Man accused of killing two children at Quebec daycare to stand trial in April 2025
The man accused of murdering two children and injuring six others after a city bus crashed into a Montreal-area daycare is scheduled to stand trial over five weeks beginning in April 2025.