A wide-ranging cyberattack on the Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC) in Canada’s Nunavut territory has crippled the company’s administrative offices.
Officials with the company said the attack started on January 15 and while power plants are still operating normally, computer systems at the corporation’s customer care and administrative offices are unavailable.
The company cannot accept bill payment through credit cards but customers can pay using cash or through bank transfers.
The premier of the region, P.J. Akeeagok, said in a statement that the government is working with the company to respond to the incident, with several government departments providing personnel.
“These types of attacks are criminal. Expert cybersecurity and legal advice have been retained and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are assisting QEC’s ongoing investigation,” Akeeagok said. “Cabinet and our regular members are being kept informed of the situation and are confident in the course of action being taken by the corporation and our public service.”
QEC CEO Rick Hunt said the company activated its response plan as soon as they learned there was a potential issue. The company is still trying to determine what information may have been stolen or accessed during the attack.
