Breach of personal information a concern following London Drugs 'cybersecurity incident': tech security expert
A Calgary-based technology security expert is raising concerns about the potential breach of personal data in a cyber security incident that forced London Drugs to close its doors.
More than 80 London Drugs stores across Western Canada remained closed on Tuesday as the company dealt with the cyber threat, first found on Sunday.
“We don't know exactly what's going on, except that something really bad happened to London Drugs,” Tom Keenan, a professor who researches computer security and tech crime at the University of Calgary, said.
The retailer is now saying that personal data may have been compromised in the incident, marking a reversal from a previous statement indicating the company had no reason to believe any such personal information had been breached.
Keenan says it’s surprising the company blackout has lasted for three days and that London Drugs could face concerns if any personal data such as emails, banking or medical information was compromised.
"If the bad guys hypothetically had that information, they could threaten to expose it on the internet and that could be embarrassing," said Keenan.
"Or another scenario, they can maybe send you an email if they got your email address from London Drugs that says your prescription is up for renewal, put in your credit card. So there's all kinds of possibilities for fraud here.”
London Drugs said it is working with third-party security experts to bring its systems back online.
"Our investigation is currently assessing the extent to which any data has been compromised in the incident," read a company statement.
"In the event our investigation determines that personal information was impacted, we will notify affected individuals in accordance with privacy laws."
London Drugs says it has temporarily disabled its telephone lines as part of its internal investigation into the attack, with no timeline on when the stores will reopen.
The company has barred customers from its stores unless it’s for urgent pharmacy care.
Pharmacy staff will remain at London Drugs locations to assist those customers with urgent medical needs, according to the company.
"We advise customers to visit their local store in person during regular business hours for immediate support and until the phone lines are back in service," the statement said.
Calgary shopper Galiya Burgess says she was shocked to have learned the store was closed.
"I was planning to buy something there last week when I was here, and I thought to do it today," she said.
"It's not good. It's not good at all. Not good for the business. Not good for people."
London Drugs originated in Richmond, B.C. and operates stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
With files from CTV News Vancouver
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again
Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized.
Community mourns victims of fatal boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
The three people killed in last weekend's tragic collision between a speedboat and a fishing boat north of Kingston are being remembered Friday.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of a 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
NASA launches tiny CubeSat to set its sights on Earth
NASA has launched the first of two research satellites to measure how much heat is lost to space from the Arctic and Antarctica.
How to keep insects out of your house, according to an entomologist and other experts
Now that temperatures have warmed up even more this spring, you may be anxious at the thought of bugs invading your home or you may already be battling the pests. Here are expert tips on how to keep them away.
‘It’s pretty alarming’: Urban Wildlife encounters in Winnipeg this week
When you consider what kind of animals you might encounter in your Winnipeg neighborhood, a bear probably isn’t on your list.
Prescriptions for weight loss, diabetes drugs for young people leaped 600% since 2020, study says
The number of young people in the U.S. who are prescribed GLP-1 agonist drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic for weight loss and diabetes soared 594.4 per cent in just three years, according to new research.
Dolphin stuck in N.J. creek dies after 'last resort' rescue attempt, officials say
Animal welfare officials say a dolphin stuck in a New Jersey creek for more than a week has died after a rescue attempt they say was attempted as a “last resort.”