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Canadian official warns of encryption lapses

Each day, cybercriminals are devising new and sophisticated ways to access sensitive data stored on both public and private servers. It is imperative in this age of widespread malware and network vulnerability that staff members of both private companies and government agencies take every precaution possible to protect vital information. In the wake of a number of data breaches across Canada, one of the nation's foremost cybersecurity advisors urged organizations to step up their encryption protocols concerning both on server and in-transit data.

The Calgary Herald reported that Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner Jill Clayton recently addressed the need for officials from both public and private agencies to increase their data security vigilance. Since 2010, the province's Personal Information Protection Act has required private sector enterprises to report any data breaches that may result in significant harm. According to Slaw's Yosie Saint-Cyr, within two years, 151 privacy breaches had been reported to the commissioner's office.

In addition, the commissioner reported multiple instances of cyberthieves gaining access to sensitive government data. The data breaches led to the theft of personal information belonging to thousands of people, leaving them vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. In some instances, in-transit data was compromised after an agency's network was breached. If those departments had implemented an SSL certificate, that information would have been encrypted and rendered virtually unusable to hackers.

Clayton urged members of any public or private organization to invest in greater encryption software. By scrambling the data present, these techniques can make the information unreadable unless a user has the key necessary to gain access to a file's contents. Encryption can serve as a vital line of defense against cybercriminals who seek to benefit from the theft of sensitive information.

The threat of cyberattacks continues to loom across the internet. Protect your data with an SSL certificate today.

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