Hackers have executed a targeted cyber-attack on organizations employing healthcare workers in British Columbia (BC), potentially compromising the personal data of approximately 240,000 individuals. The Health Employers Association of BC disclosed the illegal breach on its servers, which contained information linked to nearly 240,000 email addresses. The stolen data may encompass sensitive details such as birthdates, social insurance numbers, passport information, driver’s licenses, education credentials, investigative reports, and other employee-related information tied to the affected programs.
The breached servers belonged to three vital programs: Health Match BC, the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry, and the Locums for Rural BC program. These programs play crucial roles in supporting healthcare staffing and services in the province. Fortunately, the attack does not impact the broader healthcare records of other British Columbians who are not associated with these programs.
HEABC’s President and CEO, Michael McMillan, acknowledged the gravity of the situation and emphasized the need to inform individuals about the potential breach of their personal information. The association is actively working with cybersecurity and privacy experts to address the incident and mitigate its impact on affected individuals.
However, the breach has raised significant questions and concerns among the affected employees, who now face potential risks of identity theft and other forms of exploitation due to the exposure of their sensitive data.
