(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
January 24, 2023 - 7:30 AM
Okanagan College is warning all its students that their personal information, including social insurance numbers, may have been stolen during a Jan. 9 cyberattack.
The warning goes out to all current students, whether full-time, part-time or continuing education. It does not include staff, former or prospective students.
“In the wrong hands, this type of information can be used for fraud, identity theft and other harmful purposes,” the warning, posted on the college’s website yesterday, Jan. 23, and attributed to college president Neil Fassina, says.
The personal information that may have been stolen includes name, date of birth, email and mailing addresses, social insurance numbers as well as information on transcripts or enrollment applications.
For international students, that could include passport and/or visa numbers.
“Although we have no evidence that any such activity has occurred, we want you to be aware of the situation, including the steps we are taking to address this issue, and the precautions that we recommend you take to protect your personal information,” the warning says.
The college uses a third party payment processor for credit and debit card payments and has no evidence that has been compromised since it’s not stored directly on the campus.
READ MORE: Cybercriminals are after everyone, not just big organizations like Okanagan College: expert
The warning outlines a number of steps the college is taking, such as offering free access to credit monitoring services.
Students are also being given $50,000 in identity theft insurance.
“As a matter of best practice, we recommend that you remain vigilant, as always, to the possibility of fraud and identity theft by reviewing your financial statements and accounts regularly for any unauthorized activity,” the warning says. “You should notify your local law enforcement of any suspicious activity.”
It also outlines things students can do to “practice good cyber-hygiene.”
The Jan. 9 cyberattack forced the college to shut down all it's systems, including phone and email.
Full details can be seen here.
READ MORE: Okanagan College crippled by cyberattack
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