A malicious government employee caused a major breach of the Treasury Board’s computer security. This data leak would have caused nearly 31,450 victims.
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The Sûreté du Québec is conducting an investigation into a data leak that took place at the Secretariat of the Treasury Board.
“Working documents that belong to the Government of Quebec as well as files that contain citizens’ personal information were found, on external computer media, at an employee’s home, which contravenes security practices in force,” the Treasury Board said in a statement.
The data that was found is, in the vast majority of cases, the surnames, first names and social insurance numbers of citizens.
“The data targeted by this breach of confidentiality mainly concern personal information of nearly 31,450 individuals, contained in databases created between 2009 and 2012 and related to the process of qualifying candidates,” the document points out.
The victims affected by this breach of confidentiality will be informed soon and Quebec will put in place the necessary support measures with these people.
The Information Access Commission and the Government Cyber Defense Center have been seized of the situation.
More details to come.
Reference-www.journaldequebec.com