N.S. Liberals call for emergency meeting on Nova Scotia Power ransomware attack

Following the recent ransomware attack on Nova Scotia Power, politicians are demanding action to address the breach of personal information of 280,000 customers. The Liberals are calling for an emergency meeting with the utility’s executives to provide answers to concerned Nova Scotians.

Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that Nova Scotia Power should publicly explain the security breach as they request rate increases. Mombourquette suggested that the utility’s executives should appear before the all-party public accounts committee to address the issue.

In response to the cyber attack, Nova Scotia Power announced that hackers stole data and published it on the dark web. The utility has sent warning letters to approximately 280,000 affected customers, accounting for more than half of its customer base. The president of Nova Scotia Power confirmed that no ransom has been paid and that cybersecurity experts are assisting in the investigation.

In a letter to the public accounts committee, Mombourquette requested a thorough examination of what he described as one of the most significant privacy breaches in Nova Scotia’s history. NDP Leader Claudia Chender expressed support for a comprehensive investigation into the incident, emphasizing the importance of preventing future breaches.

The chair of the committee, NDP MLA Susan Leblanc, agreed that the matter is urgent and warrants discussion. Committee members are now considering scheduling a meeting for next week to address the issue.

Nova Scotia Power’s CEO revealed that up to 140,000 social insurance numbers may have been stolen in the attack. Cybersecurity expert Claudiu Popa questioned the need for collecting such sensitive information, suggesting less risky methods of customer identification. The federal government advises against sharing social insurance numbers unless legally required, as they can be used for fraudulent activities.

Nova Scotia Cyber Security Minister Jill Balser urged affected customers to sign up for credit monitoring services and take steps to protect themselves from identity fraud. She assured that resources and assistance are available from her department to support Nova Scotians in safeguarding their personal information.