DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

U. British Columbia statement re: FOI privacy breach

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Dissent

On January 25, 2016, UBC responded to numerous FOI requests related to the resignation of Dr. Arvind Gupta from his post as UBC’s President in August 2015. Due to the large number of requests, and the large number of responsive pages, UBC chose to consolidate these requests and posted a package of 861 responsive pages on its website in PDF format. UBC sent all of the requesters a link to these records. UBC had redacted information from the package in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”). Much of the redacted information constituted Dr. Gupta’s personal information.

On January 27, UBC became aware that some of the redacted information had somehow been accessed from the package and immediately removed the package from UBC’s website. Upon investigation, UBC was able to determine that the release of this information occurred in the following manner. UBC utilizes a software package called Redax, which is the industry standard software for redacting documents in electronic format and producing PDF disclosure packages. Where documents consisting of emails with attachments are converted into a PDF file, hidden copies of any unredacted attachments are embedded in the resulting PDF file. While these attachments are hidden, they can be accessed by a knowledgeable user by clicking on links that are embedded in the PDF file. Therefore, it is necessary to take the additional step of “sanitizing” the PDF file to remove the hidden copies of the unredacted attachments. This “sanitization” step is part of UBC’s standard practice, but was inadvertently omitted in this case.

As a result, a number of files that had been attached to emails were hidden within the package and could be accessed by clicking on links within the records package. Some of these attachments contained information that had been redacted, including personal information of Dr. Gupta. This vulnerability affected only these attachments and did not affect the overwhelming majority of the package.

UBC has prepared a replacement package that does not include any of these hidden attachments. To download it, please click here.

UBC deeply regrets the error that led to this privacy breach. UBC has already notified the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of this breach, and will fully cooperate with any investigation it may undertake. UBC takes its obligations under the FIPPA seriously, both to protect privacy and to respond to access requests in an effective, efficient and secure manner. To that end, UBC has retained an external expert to review its disclosure practices and provide recommendations on any steps that need to be taken to prevent a recurrence.

Hubert Lai, Q.C., University Counsel

SOURCE: University of British Columbia


Related:

  • PowerSchool commits to strengthened breach measures following engagement with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
  • Hungarian police arrest suspect in cyberattacks on independent media
  • British institutions to be banned from paying ransoms to Russian hackers
  • Data breach feared after cyberattack on AMEOS hospitals in Germany
  • Inquiry launched after identities of SAS soldiers leaked in fresh data breach
  • Bitcoin holds steady as hackers drain over $40 million from CoinCDX, India's top exchange
Category: Education SectorExposureNon-U.S.

Post navigation

← Boy arrested over TalkTalk hacking settles case against Twitter
TW: MJIB launches investigation into info leak case, finds alleged mole →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Scattered Spider Hijacks VMware ESXi to Deploy Ransomware on Critical U.S. Infrastructure
  • Hacker group “Silent Crow” claims responsibility for cyberattack on Russia’s Aeroflot
  • AIIMS ORBO Portal Vulnerability Exposing Sensitive Organ Donor Data Discovered by Researcher
  • Two Data Breaches in Three Years: McKenzie Health
  • Scattered Spider is running a VMware ESXi hacking spree
  • BreachForums — the one that went offline in April — reappears with a new founder/owner
  • Fans React After NASCAR Confirms Ransomware Breach
  • Allianz Life says ‘majority’ of customers’ personal data stolen in cyberattack (1)
  • Infinite Services notifying employees and patients of limited ransomware attack
  • The safe place for women to talk wasn’t so safe: hackers leak 13,000 user photos and IDs from the Tea app

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • Congress tries to outlaw AI that jacks up prices based on what it knows about you
  • Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature is now blocked by Brave and AdGuard
  • Trump Administration Issues AI Action Plan and Series of AI Executive Orders
  • Indonesia asked to reassess data privacy terms in new U.S. trade deal
  • Meta Denies Tracking Menstrual Data in Flo Health Privacy Trial
  • Wikipedia seeks to shield contributors from UK law targeting online anonymity
  • British government reportedlu set to back down on secret iCloud backdoor after US pressure

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.
Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report