Halifax Water Investigates Privacy Breach Affecting Customers

Halifax Water is currently investigating a privacy breach that has impacted its Customer Connect online portal. The utility company announced the breach on November 3, 2023, revealing that unauthorized access to customer data had occurred, although specific details regarding the timing and duration of the breach remain unclear. Spokesperson Brittany Smith informed CBC News that the organization is still assessing the situation and working to determine the extent of the breach.

While Halifax Water has yet to disclose which customer information was compromised or the number of affected customers, Smith noted that there is no indication that financial data is at risk. The Customer Connect portal, which enables users to view account details, monitor water usage, and access billing information, will remain offline during the investigation.

Response and Customer Advisory

In light of the incident, Halifax Water is adhering to its incident response protocol. This includes notifying the Halifax Regional Police, the Nova Scotia Regulatory Appeals Board, and the Nova Scotia Privacy Office. Smith emphasized the importance of caution for customers who might receive unsolicited communications. The utility has explicitly stated, “Halifax Water is currently not contacting customers regarding this incident. If you receive a call, email, or text message, please ignore them.”

This situation marks the second privacy breach for Halifax Water within a year. In 2023, the organization reported that approximately 25,000 account numbers and names were exposed due to a compromise of the province’s MOVEit file transfer service. At that time, it was also confirmed that no financial records were involved.

As Halifax Water continues its investigation, customers are encouraged to stay informed through official channels. The utility’s commitment to transparency and security remains a priority as it works to resolve this issue.