Toronto Hydro online accounts hacked

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Toronto police have launched an investigation after as many as 179,000 Toronto Hydro customer account numbers were illegally accessed in the company's electronic billing system.

Toronto Hydro says it contacted police after detecting atypical activity in its e-billing system. "We saw some unusual activity on our systems, and whenever there is more than the normal use of our system, the system shuts down and notifies IT staff," said David O'Brien, president and CEO of Toronto Hydro.

"What was being accessed was the file that contained the customer account number, their name and address. We're very confident it doesn't go deeper than that, no financial information was obtained," said O'Brien, who noted Hydro was concerned the information might be used to obtain credit card or personal information from customers.

"It's a total outrage when the provincial government has been paying lip service to fighting identity theft and a major public utility has exposed close to 200,000 people to that very sort of thing," said Peter Kormos, NDP consumer protection critic.

Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian was notified of the breach and is investigating as well.

"The last bill(s) to 179,000 customers were accessed online," said Bob Spence, spokesman for the office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. "Any time a privacy investigation is launched, we look at what happened and how it might be prevented."

O'Brien says Toronto Hydro will be sending a letter to each of its 685,000 customers, explaining about the privacy breach. It will not be telling customers if their account information was among those accessed, however.

"We're aware of the situation, and we'll be monitoring developments," said Eric Pelletier, a spokesman for the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

Related News

blood-nickel-canada-role

Blood Nickel and Canada's Role in Global Mining Sustainability

OTTAWA - The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) has sparked a surge in demand for essential battery components, particularly nickel, essential for their batteries. This demand has ignited concerns about the environmental and social impacts of nickel mining, particularly in regions where standards may not meet global sustainability benchmarks. This article explores the concept of "blood nickel," its implications for the environment and communities, and Canada's potential role in promoting sustainable mining practices.

The Global Nickel Boom

As the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles, nickel has emerged as a critical component for lithium-ion batteries due to its ability to…

READ MORE
powerlines

UK net zero policies: What do changes mean?

READ MORE

nyc empty streets

Covid-19 is reshaping the electric rhythms of New York City

READ MORE

iveco-bus-new-hdrogen-electric-bus-contracts-in-france

IVECO BUS Achieves Success with New Hydrogen and Electric Bus Contracts in France

READ MORE

pennsylvania electricity exports chart

EIA: Pennsylvania exports the most electricity, California imports the most from other states

READ MORE