Albertans' personal data up for sale after hackers extort health company
Personal information belonging to Albertans has been leaked online and posted for sale after a health care company was hacked, CTV News has learned.
Ontario-based Homewood Health told CTV News it was hacked earlier this year and has recently begun contacting affected companies and agencies whose information may be compromised, including several in Alberta as well as in B.C. and Ontario.
It's not clear how many Albertans were affected by the breach.
CTV News has confirmed at least some of the information leaked online is authentic, though the bulk of the data is still on the auction block at Marketo, a site that describes itself as a "leaked data marketplace."
The data appeared to draw hundreds of bids from prospective buyers.
"An investigation is currently underway and actively involves external cybersecurity and privacy experts working in consultation with law enforcement and provincial privacy authorities," reads a statement from Homewood Health.
"These experts are working diligently to understand how the information was obtained and what information has been affected."
Alberta's Workers' Compensation Board and the City of Spruce Grove told CTV News they were among those affected by the leak.
"We are still confirming the extent of the breach, but understand it includes information supplied by WCB-Alberta employees who accessed support from their employee and family assistance program," reads a statement from WCB-Alberta, noting an investigation is ongoing.
"We have been assured that the provider is taking the appropriate steps to investigate and respond."
The City of Spruce Grove says it was informed Friday morning that it was affected by the breach.
"The information accessed was general in nature about the City and not related to personal information," reads a statement from the city.
Homewood Health says it will be notifying those affected by the breach but wouldn't specify how many people that would be.
It previously told CTV News Vancouver that state-sponsored Chinese hackers Hafnium, who victimized thousands of companies earlier this year, were likely behind the breach.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta says it was initially unaware of the breach but has since been in contact with Homewood Health and is awaiting an official report.
'LEAKED DATA MARKETPLACE'
Marketo, which has the same name as an online marketing company by Adobe but bears no connection, calls itself a “leaked data marketplace” but it’s perhaps more accurate to describe it as an online clearinghouse for stolen information.
The first and most prominent listing currently on its website is for Homewood Health, and it showed nearly 300 bids have purportedly been made for the information so far.
When CTV News contacted the site, a representative countered Homewood’s description of events, insisting they researched the weaknesses of Homewood Health and other companies and attacked them directly, insisting they did not acquire the data as part of the Hafnium hack.
“I got to say it right away that we just sell company data. We do not have the intention to harm customers or clients of this company,” wrote a spokesperson identifying themselves as Mannus Gott. “If the company understands and is willing to accept responsibility for the leak, there will be no publication. Otherwise, we are not responsible for the safety of this data.”
They say on Thursday, some of the data will be sold and the rest will be published.
A Homewood Health representative told CTV News Vancouver the hackers had tried to extort the company over the information, characterizing it as a “dark web” scheme, but the Marketo website can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection.
“This isn't only on the dark web, Marketo group's site exists on the clear web too, so it's very easily accessed," explained online threat analyst Brett Callow, who works for Emsisoft on Vancouver Island.
“These types of incidents are extremely common and there are about 2,500 organizations that have had their data stolen and published on sites like this -- and that just within the last couple of years."
With files from Penny Daflos
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
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.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
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.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.