No ransom demand in B.C. cyberattack, minister says
The "sophisticated" cyberattack that was recently detected on B.C. government networks has not come with a ransom demand – at least, not yet.
Premier David Eby announced Wednesday that the province is grappling with unspecified "cybersecurity incidents," with help from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security to bolster safeguards and protect sensitive personal information.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth had few additional details to share Thursday, but confirmed the cyberattack "has not been a ransomware incident."
Last week, CTV News reported that all government employees had been directed to immediately change their passwords. Farnworth would not reveal more on when officials learned about the intrusion on government networks, except that it was recent.
"I cannot be more specific than that at this particular point in time," Farnworth added. "When I can be, I will be."
The province delayed announcing the cyberattack to the public because doing so earlier could have put the information stored on B.C. networks at greater risk, Farnworth said.
"The first priority is to protect the system," he said. "The challenge with going out right away and telling people that is the moment that you do that – if you haven't secured everything, if you haven't understood what's taken place – you are then making the system more vulnerable to outside interference and people who are up to mischief."
The minister also reiterated Eby's previous statement that there is "no evidence" so far that sensitive personal information was accessed or stolen – though B.C.'s Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has been notified.
Asked about the prompt for provincial employees to change their passwords last week, a government spokesperson told CTV News there was no link to the high-profile cyberattack against London Drugs that forced the company to close all 79 stores for days.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Penny Daflos
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More Canadians are moving to the U.S. Here's one of the main reasons, according to an immigration expert
Recent data from the U.S. census revealed that more than 126,000 people moved from Canada to the U.S. in 2022. An expert said that one of the main reasons for this move is the cost of living.
Bus carrying Quebec tourists crashes in Cuba, leaving 1 dead and 26 injured
One person is dead and 26 were injured after a bus carrying Quebec tourists was involved in a collision in Cuba on Sunday.
Her gut was producing alcohol. Doctors didn't believe her
For two years doctors told her she was an alcoholic. Then they realized her gut was making alcohol from carbohydrates, a rare condition called auto-brewery syndrome.
'They need this protection': Trudeau gov't re-offers $1.5M for enhanced Pride security in Canada
For the second year, the federal government is offering up to $1.5M to Pride organizations across the country to fund enhanced security measures, amid a continued rise in anti-LGBTQ2S+ hate.
Here's how far B.C. drivers must keep from cyclists, pedestrians under new law
A new law protecting cyclists and pedestrians in British Columbia takes effect Monday, establishing minimum distances that drivers must keep from so-called vulnerable road users.
Prospective jurors in Hunter Biden's firearms case questioned on gun rights, addiction
A federal gun case against U.S. President Joe Biden’s son Hunter opened Monday with jury selection, following the collapse of a plea deal that would have avoided the spectacle of a trial so close the 2024 election.
AFN national chief blasts governments' inaction on fifth anniversary of MMIWG report
On the fifth anniversary of a national inquiry's report into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is blasting all levels of government for what she calls slow progress to stop the crisis.
B.C. school district apologizes for asking students 'Should Israel exist?'
The Burnaby School District superintendent has issued an apology and launched an investigation after a Grade 6/7 class was presented with a question regarding the existence of Israel.
Toyota apologizes for cheating on vehicle testing and halts production of three models
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologized Monday for massive cheating on certification tests for seven vehicle models as the automaker suspended production of three of them.