Data stolen during 'cyber incidents' at Waterloo Region District School Board
Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) says it’s working on restoring its IT system and safeguarding personal information after what it’s calling “cyber incidents.”
An internal memo sent to staff on Wednesday and verified by CTV News revealed data was stolen in the incident that was first brought to the board’s attention over a week ago.
The board declined CTV News’ request for an interview, but provided an emailed statement confirming it was “the most recent target of cyber incidents.”
WRDSB communications officer Estefania Brandenstein said it could take weeks to fully investigate what happened and what’s been impacted.
“We intend to do whatever is within our ability to resolve this issue,” Brandenstein said in the email.
DATA STOLEN
In an internal email sent to staff on Wednesday, the board said it has been “managing the incident since it first came to our attention on July 10.”
“We have confirmed that data was stolen and we are working to determine the exact content of that data,” the board’s email to staff said in part.
The board said it will provide staff with one year of complimentary credit monitoring – a service that notifies people about unusual banking activities.
The school board also said it’s retained expert advisors as they work to restore services.
“We want to assure you that this is an isolated occurrence and we will remedy the situation,” the board wrote to staff.
In a separate email sent to students and their families on Wednesday, the board said it “has now confirmed that an unauthorized person accessed and removed certain data from our systems.”
It continued, in part, saying it believes the risk to students’ sensitive information is low.
QUESTIONS REMAIN
In its statement to CTV News, the board said it has shared information on the incidents with staff, students and their families and will continue to communicate directly with those impacted.
“This is serious and concerning, and unfortunately, cyber incidents are occurring more frequently in the education sector,” Brandenstien said.
The board did not respond to any of CTV’s questions about which services have been impacted as a result of the "cyber incidents."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
A Nigerian chess champion plays the royal game for 60 hours - a new global chess record
A Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate played chess nonstop for 60 hours in New York City's Times Square to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.