Cyber Security Awareness Month: Email Compromise
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, and the Law Society would like to caution Alberta lawyers about email compromise – a common and growing cause of privacy breaches.
Email compromise can occur through phishing attacks, stolen credentials, malicious links or unauthorized access to email accounts. When this happens, confidential client information, trust-related information and personal information may be exposed. Lawyers have privacy and professional obligations when responding to a breach.
If you suspect your email account has been compromised, it is important to act quickly to contain the breach, assess the risks, and meet reporting and notification requirements.
The Law Society’s Privacy Breached: Now What? resource outlines practical steps to help lawyers and their colleagues respond effectively if an incident occurs.