Canadian Underwriter

Business owner shielding her company's computers from cyberattack
News Insurance

Help small business clients deter cyberattacks

October 3, 2023 Jason Contant

When it comes to cybersecurity in 2023, employees are usually the weakest link, ethical hackers told Canadian Underwriter. This is especially true for smaller businesses, which often have no visibility into their corporate networks, little or no budget for cybersecurity,

Cybercriminal coming to steal your data
News ClaimsInsuranceTechnology

Why insurers worry about clients’ crime coverage

September 15, 2023 Alyssa Di Sabatino

As clients tighten their purse strings in anticipation of an economic downturn, they are increasingly underinsured for their crime-related losses. Crime insurers are seeing an uptick in social engineering (i.e., phishing) claims, says Katherine Gauthier, vice president of specialty solutions

BCGEU members on the picket line
News ClaimsInsurance

Cannabis producer says B.C. strike, cyberattack could cause $3 million revenue loss

September 21, 2022 Tara Deschamps - THE CANADIAN PRESS

Aurora Cannabis Inc. says it could take a revenue hit of up to $3 million because of a cyberattack that downed Ontario’s pot distributor and a strike that halted deliveries to B.C. marijuana stores. Glen Ibbott, the Edmonton-based cannabis company’s

Paying a ransomware demand
News Insurance

Before paying a ransom, hacked companies should consider their ethics and values

August 18, 2022 The Canadian Press

Michael Parent, Professor, Management Information Systems, Simon Fraser University – THE CONVERSATION   The recent cyberattacks in August on Bombardier Recreational Products and the Ontario Cannabis Store highlight the continuing scourge of cyber criminals and ransomware. Ransomware is a piece

Malware detected on a computer
News Insurance

Ski-Doo maker ramping up operations after cyberattack forced suspension

August 16, 2022 The Canadian Press

VALCOURT, Que. – BRP Inc. says it is ramping up production at four of its factories after a cyberattack brought its operations to a halt earlier this month. The Ski-Doo and Sea-Doo maker says manufacturing sites in Valcourt, Que., Sturtevant,

Cybersecurity concept with hacker working on a code
News Insurance

BRP operations to remain frozen until next week after cyberattack shutdown

August 12, 2022 The Canadian Press

VALCOURT, Que. – Work at BRP Inc. factories will likely stay at a standstill until next week after a cyberattack that the Sea-Doo maker reported Monday. “Our teams continue working around the clock to resolve the situation and have made

Cannabis ordered online
News Insurance

Ontario Cannabis Store unable to process deliveries after partner faces cyberattack

August 9, 2022 Tara Deschamps - THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO – The Ontario Cannabis Store says a cyberattack faced by one of its logistics partners has left the provincial pot distributor unable to process or deliver orders to marijuana shops and customers. The OCS said Monday evening there is

Cybersecurity threat to healthcare information
News Insurance

At least 37,800 people affected by cyberattack last year on N.L. healthcare system

July 22, 2022 The Canadian Press

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – About 37,800 people in Newfoundland and Labrador have been sent privacy breach notices stemming from a cyberattack last year on the province’s healthcare system, a spokesperson with the Eastern Health authority said Thursday. The letters were

IT engineer working on protecting a network
News Insurance

A unified cybersecurity strategy is the key to protecting businesses

May 30, 2022 The Canadian Press

By Camelia Radu, Associate Professor in Accounting, Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM) and Nadia Smaili, Professor in Accounting (forensic accounting), Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM) – THE CONVERSATION This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent

Cybersecurity concept
News Insurance

Security committee finds gaps in federal cyberdefences that place vital data at risk

February 15, 2022 Jim Bronskill - THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA – The committee of MPs and senators which oversees federal security policy has uncovered gaps in Canada’s cyberdefences that could leave many agencies vulnerable to state-sponsored hackers from countries like China and Russia. In a new report, the National

Hacker in a hoodie concept
News Insurance

Federal government investigating cyberattack amid tensions with Russia

January 25, 2022 The Canadian Press

OTTAWA – The federal government says the country’s cybersecurity agencies are investigating a recent attack against Global Affairs Canada. The government is not saying who it suspects was behind the Jan. 19 attack, which has left some diplomats without access

Ransomware on a laptop
News Insurance

N.L. rebuilding ‘from scratch’ systems downed by cyberattack using backups: official

December 15, 2021 The Canadian Press

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – An Irish expert says the fact Newfoundland and Labrador has to rebuild “from scratch” systems affected by an Oct. 30 cyberattack provides a new clue about the attack and its progress. Brian Honan said in an