News Release: Assistance offered to those affected by privacy breach in Yukon

Mon, Mar 19, 2018

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 19, 2018                  

Assistance offered to those affected by privacy breach in Yukon

WHITEHORSE – Yukon’s Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) is working to ensure that people affected by a recent privacy breach in the territory understand the measures they can take to protect themselves. Diane McLeod-McKay wants to make sure that individuals affected by a privacy breach at the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board (YWCHSB) know they can make a complaint to her office if they have concerns about their privacy, or get help from her office about what to do now.

“I learned through news stories and from information posted on the YWCHSB website that it had experienced a privacy breach, which resulted in the names and email addresses of 270 individuals being exposed to an unknown party,” said McLeod-McKay. “The breach was apparently the result of a vulnerability in the software used to host the YWCHSB website. It is unclear to me if these individuals were informed that they can make a complaint to my office about this matter.”

McLeod-McKay is reaching out to the affected people through Yukon media and via her website.

“I want to inform these individuals that while the personal information that was involved in the breach is not as sensitive as some personal information, such as social insurance numbers or medical information, there are still a number of risks from a breach of this kind,” added McLeod-McKay.

A person with malicious intent who acquires names and email addresses can use the information to pose as a legitimate business, including as YWCHSB, in an effort to obtain additional personal information that can result in harm to the individuals, sometimes called “phishing”. Those affected by this breach need to be aware of this risk so they can protect themselves from any harm that could occur.

Affected Yukoners may contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner to find out more about the risks associated with phishing or to enquire about making a privacy complaint. They may reach her by phone at 867-667-8468 or 800-661-0408 ext. 8468, or may visit her office in person at Suite 201, 211 Hawkins Street in Whitehorse.

Contact:

Diane McLeod-McKay, Information and Privacy Commissioner

867-667-8468

info@ombudsman.yk.ca

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