Business
Police Investigating Possible Cyber Threat Against Hydro One
A cyber attack on an archaic, unused IP address at Hydro One could be part of a broader hacking campaign, security experts say.
Rick Haier, chief security officer of Hydro One, said the electricity provider was contacted by the RCMP on Dec. 29, alerting them to an IP address in their system that had been targeted by hackers.
“The address in question is not an active IP address at Hydro One nor is it connected to the power system,” Haier said in a written statement.
Hydro One has no reason to believe that its power system has been compromised, the company said.
But attacks on individual pieces of software are not necessarily targeted at that entity or its owners, says Ira Goldstein, a senior vice president at the Herjavec Group IT security firm.
These so-called “zombie” or “bot” hacks search for weak spots in the security of anything connected to the internet, Goldstein said.
IP addresses, servers, computers, even WiFi-enabled baby monitors could be preyed upon, he said.
A virus is then sent to these vulnerable items, which allows them to be taken over and used for some separate, likely nefarious, purpose.
“A lot of the attacks that are happening on the internet are just automated programs … where people are setting up programs for criminal (or) political means,” said Goldstein, who is not involved in the Hydro One hacking case and would not comment specifically on it.
Goldstein used the example of taking over thousands of internet-connected items and getting them all to bombard an organization’s inbox with emails in an attempt to crash its system.
The IP address targeted in the Hydro One attack was set up in the 1990s by the now-defunct Ontario Hydro, said company spokesperson Tiziana Rosa.
When Ontario Hydro was split into smaller companies, the IP address migrated to Hydro One, but is not used by anyone there, Rosa added.
Goldstein said older software or hardware can be the most vulnerable to cyber attacks, in part because they are unused.
“If you’re not monitoring them all the time, and you’re not decommissioning them when someone leaves the company, and you’re not having adequate controls on them then, that could be said to be the most dangerous thing,” he said.
“The assets that you know the most about are probably the ones you’re protecting the best.”
The RCMP declined to comment on the hack or confirm the details provided by Hydro One.
“The RCMP is aware of the media reports and can not comment any further in order to protect a potential criminal investigation,” said RCMP spokesperson Harold Pfleiderer.
On Dec. 29, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a report outlining the tools and methods used by Russian military and civilian hackers, in an “ongoing campaign” targeting government, infrastructure, think tanks, universities, political groups, and private companies in the U.S.
Homeland Security shared that report with “foreign government partners, including in the Canadian government,” on Dec. 29, said agency spokesperson Scott McConnell.
Russian hackers have “conducted damaging and/or disruptive cyber-attacks, including attacks on critical infrastructure networks” outside of the U.S. as well, the report says.
The report includes a list of “signatures” used by Russian hackers and indicators that a network has been compromised.
In some cases, Russian hackers used fake online identities to misdirect victims as to the source of cyber attacks, say the FBI and Homeland Security.
Cyber attackers conduct so-called “speare phishing” scams, in which a victim is sent an email, purportedly from someone they know, containing a link that exposes them to a hack, says the report.
Hackers may also try to send commands to a browser, database or other system, effectively taking control of it, the report says.
They may try to insert code into a web application to give themselves unauthorized access.
Or they can take advantage of existing vulnerabilities in poorly configured servers and access the information hosted on them.
The Russian government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
With files from the Canadian Press
Beauty enthusiasts rejoice! Beauty Week at Hudson’s Bay is back in Toronto for another year. It’s time to stock up on all of your fall essentials and, maybe discover some new ones.
From Friday, August 18 to Sunday, August 27, you can expect a truly elevated beauty experience in-store with incredible special offers, limited-time gifts, and exciting activations.
If you’re a diehard beauty lover, you’ll already know that Hudson’s Bay is the place to shop thanks to its extensive range of over 195 skin and makeup brands from both luxury labels and masstige brands — including Tata Harper, Estée Lauder, YSL, Nars Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown, and so much more.
Throughout The Bay’s Beauty Week, visitors can take in some at-counter activations and interactive expert-led tutorials, where there will be chances to get makeup touch-ups from top-tier brands, try a spritz of the most alluring fragrances, and sample tons of new products.
This year’s Beauty Week highlight is the ‘Best in Beauty’ tote, a meticulously-curated selection of 30 deluxe samples from an array of top-tier brands like Dr. Barbara Sturm and Shiseido spanning skincare, fragrance, and makeup — all in a super sleek bag.
The tote, which is valued at over $300, is retailing for just $39 and is a fantastic way to explore new products (without breaking the bank). However, there is a limited quantity, so if you want to get your hands on one, you’ll need to be fast.
Wondering exactly what Beauty Week’s free gifts with purchases entail? If you spend over $95 at Lancôme, you will receive a six-piece set valued at $130. Or, you can get an Estée Lauder gift valued at $170 with purchases over $80. (And that’s just to name a few.)
If you’re a Hudson’s Bay Rewards member, you’ll also get $20 in Hudson’s Bay rewards when you spend over $100 on beauty.
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have several non-combat jobs, some of which do not require a college degree or past work experience.
Life in the forces has several benefits, such as paid education plans (college, university and graduate-level programs), 20 paid vacation days, health and dental coverage for you and your family, maternity and paternal leave, and pension plans. You can learn more about the benefits in detail here.
And to make it easier to gauge if you qualify, the listings also include related civilian jobs to see if it’s your ideal role.
Financial services administrator
Related civilian jobs: Financial records entry clerk, financial manager, accounting technician, bookkeeper, budget officer, cashier clerk, business planner technician, and verification manager.
Description: You’ll help budget resources for all military activities besides providing financial assistance.
Education: You need to have completed Grade 10.
Duties: As a financial services administrator, you’ll be responsible for bookkeeping and managing budgets. You’ll also provide support in accounts payable and accounts receivable.
Work environment: Those in this role work at CAF bases, on ships or overseas. You might also be expected to help special operation units, recruiting offices, schools, and medical organizations.
Postal clerk
Related civilian jobs: Mail clerk, mail sorter.
Description: You’ll provide postal services to members and their families at bases and establishments.
Education: Grade 10. No previous work experience or related career skills are required.
Duties: As the postal clerk, you’ll handle mail duties.
Work environment: Besides a postal office, you may work on a ship or a mobile postal van. You might be expected to serve with Royal Canadian Navy, the Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force in Canada and abroad.
Dental technician
Related civilian jobs: Dental assistant, dental hygienist.
Description: You’ll be helping dental officers provide dental services to CAF members, their families, and dependents.
Education: Level II dental assisting diploma from an accredited college or a National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) certificate.
Duties: Those in this role will be responsible for various responsibilities, including disinfection and sterilization of dental equipment, applying rubber dams, placing cavity liners, and controlling bleeding. In addition, you’ll assist in laboratory procedures like creating casts, custom trays, and mouthguards.
Work environment: This role will require you to work in a military dental clinic, a Mobile Dental Clinic, an Air Transportable Dental System, or onboard a ship. You might be expected to work on a base in Canada or other operations in other parts of the world.
Human resources administrator
Related civilian jobs: Records administrator, data entry supervisor, receptionist, office manager, executive assistant, payroll clerk, and information management technician.
Description: Provide administrative and general human resources support.
Education: Grade 10. No previous work experience or related career skills are required.
Duties: In addition to human resources administration and services, you’ll be handling pay and allowances, managing automated pay systems, and maintaining personnel records.
Work environment: HR administrators work at all CAF bases in Canada. They also work on ships and overseas to support the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, or Royal Canadian Air Force operations.
Medical assistant
Related civilian jobs: Emergency medical responder, ambulance and first aid attendant, registered nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse, and hospital orderly.
Description: Successful candidates will help treat the sick and injured in CAF units. You’ll be assisting and supporting nursing and medical officers.
Education: Minimum of Grade 11 biology, Grade 10 physics or chemistry, and Grade 10 math.
Duties: You’ll provide initial care and essential life support treatments in trauma cases. You’ll help with health assessments (hearing and vision tests, perform basic lab procedures, etc.) and initiate and manage medical records and reports. You’ll also be expected to provide support and first aid during training exercises.
Work environment: Medical assistants may serve with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force or the Canadian Army as part of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group. Those in this role are exposed to the same risks as the forces they support.
Porter Airlines is once again stirring the pot among Canadian airline rivals, now going after Air Canada’s Aeroplan members by offering to match their loyalty status to an equivalent of their own.
The beloved airline, which recently ranked as having the best cabin service in North America, challenged the competition for the second time this year, after previously deploying a similar tactic against WestJet in the spring.
Earlier in April, Porter presented customers with a limited-time offer to match the loyalty status of WestJet’s patrons with VIPorter levels.
Now, they’re offering Aeroplan members to seamlessly transition to an equivalent VIPorter Avid Traveller status based on their existing membership tier.
Members can then take advantage of an array of travel perks that come with flying Porter, including seat selection, baggage, and flight changes.
For those currently holding an Aeroplan membership, there are two ways to acquire the Avid Traveller status for the rest of 2023:
Status-Based Match:
- Aeroplan 25K members = VIPorter Venture
- Aeroplan 35K members = VIPorter Ascent
- Aeroplan 50K, 75K, and Super Elite = VIPorter First
Flight Segments-Based Match:
- 5 flight segments = VIPorter Passport
- 8 segments = VIPorter Venture
- 17 segments = VIPorter Ascent
- 28 or more segments = VIPorter First
Members will have to first submit their applications on Porter’s website. Registration will remain open until September 6, 2023.
In order to maintain their membership level through 2024, customers will have until the end of 2023 to reach the following reduced qualifying spend (QS) targets:
- Passport = $500 in QS
- Venture = $750 in QS
- Ascent = $1500 in QS
- First = $2500 in QS
Over the past year, Porter has launched an aggressive expansion strategy, including everything from introducing longer flights on newly-purchased jet planes flying out of Toronto Pearson, free WiFi, and a new all-inclusive economy experience.
With Canadians losing both Swoop and Sunwing as WestJet incorporates both into their mainline business, Porter’s direct competition is welcome to keep prices competitive.
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