Laurentian University has confirmed what it terms a “limited data breach” resulting from a broader cyber incident that came to the university’s attention Feb. 18.
The theft of data stored in part of Laurentian’s network affects some individuals associated with the Living with Lakes Centre / Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine:
- Employees (including student employees) of the Living with Lakes Centre / Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit hired since 2022.
- Employees affiliated with the Living with Lakes Centre / Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit, who were approved to drive fleet vehicles from 2019 to present.
- Graduate students affiliated with the Living with Lakes Centre / Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit, who were paid stipends between 2019 to present.
- Undergraduate medical students and postgraduate residents of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine who entered the program from 2005 to 2019.
A press release from Laurentian said the data associated with these individuals that were exposed varies, the university continues to investigate in order to determine the specifics of the data. This process will likely take a number of months.
In the interim, Laurentian University said it will provide, at no cost, two-year credit monitoring service to all those whose data were exposed. This service will allow the impacted individuals to check for signs of identity fraud so protective action can be taken.
“This protective service is of significant benefit, and we encourage recipients to take advantage of it,” said the press release.
Laurentian will distribute enrolment codes for the credit monitoring services as follows:
- All employees and graduate and undergraduate students affiliated with the Living with Lakes Centre / Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit who are identified as potentially impacted will receive a credit monitoring code for this credit monitoring service by email by 9 a.m. Thursday, March 7, 2024.
- The university asks that any undergraduate medical student and postgraduate resident of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine who entered the program from 2005 to 2019 email Laurentian at [email protected] to obtain their credit monitoring code.
“We know that a small number of other individuals who are not employees or students of the University were also impacted by this incident,” the university said.
Those individuals will be contacted by 9 a.m. Thursday, March 7, 2024.
“Laurentian University places a high priority on privacy protection,” said the press release. “We have reported this incident to law enforcement and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.”
Those with questions are asked to consult the university’s FAQs and laurentian.ca, where Laurentian provides daily updates regarding this incident and on our restoration progress.
Individuals who believe they are part of the affected groups listed above may also email [email protected] or phone 705-675-1151, ext. 90100 as a dedicated phone line will be set-up by Monday, March 11, 2024.
“Laurentian thanks the community for its patience as the university has been working to restore services as quickly and safely as possible and to diligently investigate how this incident occurred and determine the extent of its impact,” said the press release.
