Ransomware Assault Strikes Toronto Company, which Sells Data Belonging to Ontario Residents

A company named ESC Corporate Services in Toronto and which resells confidential business and private data that the government of Ontario collects has been hit with a ransomware assault with the hackers demanding money, October 25, if the company wanted back access to its data.

The company didn't pay up so the attackers blocked the access for over 7 days. Now, there's an interface connecting the ESC Corporate Services computer with the records portal of Ontario government. The core data regarding a firm which was incorporated alternatively a car which was leased is endangered.Shea Haverstock spokesperson of ESC said the attackers asked to be paid in return for a decryption code that would
free the encrypted data-files. A spokesperson for the provincial government stated that the province was knowledgeable about the attack while it was keeping watch over the situation. As a result of all that occurred with ESC Corporate, the ministry of services under the government has embarked on work for improving the present cyber-security practices it recommends.

Meanwhile according to both ESC and Ontario government, they don't think there has been any compromise of the data; however, offered no explanation thereof.

The attack endangered data bits in the millions which pertained to businesses as well as individuals which government of Ontario gathers from time to time. The province issues approvals to ESC along with 2 other enterprises for resale activities of the data to banking and other institutions, law firms and the common people while make a profit. These enterprises make business by providing access to lien and corporate searches whose sale
is at about $100 for each search.

Thus the attack was for data qualifying resale which included corporation records, notably directors' names and home addresses, as also liens' registration pertaining to equipment, boat and automobile leases. Along with the three enterprises' search services, businessmen and consumers utilize the portals for registering fresh updates and information that are fed inside the government's computer.

And because a price is attached to the above resalable information it's as such not private data, but does prove profitable for hackers via its utilization in more assaults.

» SPAMfighter News - 11/12/2018