Cyberattacks Involving Data Theft Coupled with Ransom Demand Are Becoming Common
Cyberattacks Involving Data Theft Coupled with Ransom Demand Are Becoming Common Cyberattacks involving the theft of personal information coupled with ransom demand are becoming prevalent. The cyberattack on LifeLabs exemplifies the trend of data theft coupled with ransom demand. In November 2019, LifeLabs informed the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia that cybercriminals penetrated the company’s systems, extracted data and demanded a ransom. LifeLabs is Canada's largest provider of general and specialty laboratory testing services. The company reported that it supports 20 million patient visits each year and conducts more than 100 million laboratory tests each year. In December last year, Charles Brown, president and CEO of LifeLabs, said in a statement that information relating…