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
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.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'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.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'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.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.