Calgary third-party vaccination verification app pulls web portal after users' data left unsecured
A third-party vaccine verification app that was initially endorsed by the Calgary Flames' ownership group left some users' data unsecured and available to be viewed by the public, CTV News has confirmed.
The website app of Calgary-made PORTpass was pulled offline late Monday and its website now says "we are updating" on its landing page.
A news tip sent to CTV News and other media outlets on Monday evening pointed out the security flaw that allowed anyone to access profile information of PORTpass users.
The pages displayed the name, email address, blood type, postal code, date of birth and phone number of registered PORTpass users. The page also contained a link to the photo identification submitted by a user, including their driver's licence or passport.
FLAMES FANS: BRING HARD COPIES
Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) -- the group that owns the Flames, Stampeders, Roughnecks and Hitmen -- had initially encouraged fans to download PORTpass to provide easier entry into the Saddledome.
CSEC is now saying fans should bring hard copies of their vaccination records to future games.
"CSEC is reviewing issues that have arisen with respect to the use of the PORTpass app and will release further information as appropriate," a statement on the Flames' website reads.
PORTpass CEO Zakir Hussein says he ordered his team to take down their web portal Monday after he found out that user information was publicly available online.
"I'm waiting to hear back from our audit teams here to make sure... where are we going wrong? Where are these holes? What needs to get fixed?" Hussein said Tuesday.
He added that he has two companies auditing the PORTpass security and privacy systems and he is unsure of how many user profiles were affected by the breach.
"Personally, I don't know. I don't yet, but it was definitely not in the hundreds of thousands or thousands or five hundred," he said.
CTV News is unable to verify how many user profiles were affected and for how long their personal information would have been available publicly online.
"We are working on figuring out exactly what happened here and obviously we're going to make this better," Hussein said.
Alberta's Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta said it is contacting PORTpass to remind them about reporting its privacy breach.
"Under Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (private sector privacy law), if an organization experiences a breach and determines that there is a real risk of significant harm to affected individuals, it must report the incident to the Commissioner and notify affected individuals," reads a statement from the province's privacy commissioner.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.