District of West Vancouver issues alert about malware found installed on its server

The District of West Vancouver is informing citizens that malicious software was discovered on its server on which personal data was stored.

According to a news release issued on August 24, district staff identified and removed malware that had been installed on the city's web server. North Shore News reported that it was first discovered on July 31 and then again on August 4.

After an investigation, there wasn't any evidence that personal information stored on the server had been compromised but on the other hand, they also add that are not able to conclusively eliminate the possibility that data has been stolen.

All personal data on the web server has since been deleted and all webforms on the website have been temporarily disabled.

Anyone who used webforms at the District of West Vancouver website (westvancouver.ca) to send information from July 15, 2013 to August 14, 2018 may have been affected.

Personal information in webforms may contain names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and IP addresses.

Webforms are used on the site for requesting services, ordering recycling containers, council feedback, RSVPs, Community Day applications, student video contest submissions, summer daycamp volunteers, volunteer application forms, venue rental requests, Youth Appreciation Award nominations, and Community Awards nominations.

The district is advising anyone who has used webforms to use caution if approached by unknown individuals.

The webforms will be enabled again once additional security measures become effective. The district plans to institute a procedure of regularly removing data from the webserver.