Identity Theft the Biggest Threat in Health Care Cyber Attack, says Privacy Commissioner - VOCM

The province’s Privacy Commissioner says the biggest threat stemming from the cyber attack on the province’s health care system is identity theft.

The privacy of potentially thousands of health care staff and patients may have been compromised as Health Minister John Haggie says some personal information and personal health information has been accessed from the system.

Michael Harvey says we need to assume the attackers have personal information, and with the amount of information they have, they could potentially create an identity and use it to access someone’s banking information, or get a loan, exposing people to financial risk.

He insists that people need to be aware and vigilant.

Harvey explains that people should keep an eye on their banking information for unusual activity; contact credit rating agencies to see if credit has been effected; keep an eye out for unusual mail, emails or text messages; and otherwise, practice good “internet hygiene.”

The Privacy Commissioner says at the same time, government needs to do a variety of things such as providing credit monitoring services to the employees of the regional health authorities for the foreseeable future.

Harvey is concerned about the extent of the attack, stating that it is the largest in the province’s history, and among the largest in Canadian history. However, he says these attacks are no longer unusual.

He says these attacks are happening everyday around the world. Harvey believes it needs to be a key national priority for the federal government, and all provinces and territories together, to recognize cyber attacks as a significant risk to our way of life in Canada.

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Identity Theft the Biggest Threat in Health Care Cyber Attack, says Privacy Commissioner - VOCM
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