By Canadian Press

Expert says N.L. cyberattack worst in Canadian history, deserves federal response

Nov 4, 2021 | 9:01 AM

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — A Canadian expert says a cyberattack that knocked down Newfoundland and Labrador’s health-care data centres Saturday is a national security issue and should be treated as such by Ottawa.

Beauceron Security head David Shipley says the attack is the worst in Canadian history.

Shipley says in an interview that similar attacks have targeted individual hospitals or more general government services in the country, but the extent and the consequences for human health make the Newfoundland and Labrador situation stand out.

The attack has resulted in thousands of cancelled appointments and forced the province’s largest health authority to revert to pen and paper.

A similar attack took out Ireland’s health-care system in May, and Dublin-based security expert Brian Honan says it still hasn’t completely recovered.

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Honan agrees the Canadian government should be front and centre in responding to the attack in Newfoundland and Labrador and says the increasing frequency and severity of these incidents is a signal that countries need to take the security risk seriously.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2021.

The Canadian Press