The Burnaby School District has revealed that data may have been compromised in a cyberattack that occurred in September, potentially including personal documents and medical details. Families were informed via email about the types of information that may have been accessed, such as residency proof, student evaluations, medical diagnoses, and bus routing data.
Following the cyber incident, certain systems within the district were temporarily shut down, including internal network services and phone lines. While phone services have been restored, access to some cloud-based student services has been reinstated, although full internet access has not been confirmed as fully operational yet.
With over 29,600 students in the previous academic year across 41 elementary and eight secondary schools, the Burnaby School District is advising parents to stay vigilant against suspicious communications, monitor finances regularly, and secure online passwords.
A security expert from a software company highlighted the potential risks associated with stolen personal data from cyberattacks like this, emphasizing the importance of cautiousness given the possibility of subsequent phishing attempts. The compromised information may include visas, leases, utility bills, student intervention records, and personal education numbers. The district is recommending those affected to register with a fraud alert system to mitigate potential fraud risks.
Authorities, including the Burnaby RCMP and the B.C. Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, have been notified about the cyber incident, and the district is actively working with cybersecurity and privacy experts to review and enhance its system security to prevent future breaches. The Burnaby RCMP has confirmed that they are currently investigating the reported cyber incident.