The federal government has issued a warning to current and former public service employees, as well as members of the RCMP and Canadian Armed Forces, regarding a recent data breach that took place on October 19th. Officials have identified two companies, Brookfield Global Relocation Services (BGRS) and SIRVA Worldwide Relocation & Moving Services, as the sources of the breach. These companies provide relocation support for employees within the federal government.
It is believed that personal and financial information provided by employees to these companies since 1999 may have been compromised. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has stated that due to the large amount of data involved, specific individuals impacted cannot be identified at this time. However, the government is taking steps to mitigate the situation.
In response to the breach, affected employees and members are being offered credit monitoring services and assistance with reissuing valid passports, if necessary. The federal government is working closely with both BGRS and SIRVA Canada to monitor the situation and has also reported the incident to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, and the RCMP.
To safeguard against further potential risks, cybersecurity analyst Ritesh Kotak advises organizations to promptly address any vulnerabilities. In this case, he suggests that the affected system may need to be taken offline to conduct a forensic audit and determine who had access to the compromised data.
Individuals who have been impacted by the breach are urged to update their login credentials for accounts associated with BGRS or SIRVA Canada. The federal government also recommends enabling multi-factor authentication for online transactions and monitoring both financial and personal online accounts for any suspicious activity. Should any unusual activity be spotted, individuals are instructed to immediately notify their financial institution, contact local law enforcement, and reach out to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
FAQ:
Q: What companies were affected by the data breach?
A: Brookfield Global Relocation Services (BGRS) and SIRVA Worldwide Relocation & Moving Services were identified as the companies involved in the breach.
Q: What information may have been compromised?
A: Personal and financial information provided by employees to these companies since 1999 may have been compromised.
Q: How will the government assist those affected by the breach?
A: Credit monitoring services and assistance with reissuing valid passports will be provided to individuals who have relocated with BGRS or SIRVA Canada in the past 24 years.
Q: What should individuals do if they notice unusual activity related to their accounts?
A: They should immediately notify their financial institution, contact local police, and reach out to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.