Telecom company Eastlink has issued a caution to its clients regarding a potential data breach, assuring that no credit card or banking details were compromised. The firm, operating in seven provinces and Bermuda, initially notified some affected customers via email on Friday before 5 p.m. AT and is in the process of informing others.
According to Eastlink, accounts may have been breached between late Wednesday and early Thursday, with exposed information possibly including customer names, contact information, account numbers, and PINs. As of Sunday, the breach is said to impact approximately 75,000 accounts encompassing internet, television, and landline services.
A former Eastlink customer, Caitlyn Horne from Halifax, who terminated her internet service in 2023, confirmed receiving the breach notification. Horne expressed concerns about the extent of potentially compromised information, emphasizing the need for the company to be more transparent and provide credit monitoring services to affected clients.
Upon learning of the breach on Wednesday, Eastlink promptly shut down affected platforms on its website and mobile app. A company spokesperson, Jill Laing, stated that Eastlink is employing various notification methods, including email updates, letters, and web updates, to ensure affected customers are informed promptly.
In response to the incident, Horne expressed a sense of déjà vu, citing the frequency of data breaches and the uncertainty surrounding the information exposed. She underscored the importance of understanding the full scope of the breach and its potential implications for affected customers.