RCMP PROBES HACK OF NATIONAL SPY WATCHDOG NETWORK

The national spy watchdog says the RCMP is investigating a cybersecurity breach that resulted in the theft of two files and the compromise of personal information. The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency says that between March 9 and 19, a hacker gained access to an agency network that included a database with names, phone numbers, email addresses and scrambled versions of passwords. The agency says individuals affected by the theft of the database have been directly notified, with a few exceptions. The network also included email correspondence with other federal employees, academics, civil society groups and the media, as well as complaint allegations submitted by the public for investigation by the agency. The review agency says while there is no evidence to suggest the hacker improperly accessed or stole this other information, it “cannot fully exclude the possibility.” The agency, which first acknowledged the breach in a brief April statement, says the incident did not affect its classified systems.