BC Housing responding to ‘attempted security breach’

(The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward)

A cybersecurity incident has forced BC Housing to temporarily suspend online applications for its housing registry.

The free registry connects people seeking affordable housing with non-profit and co-operative providers in the province.

A message on the BC Housing website indicates online applications have been halted since Monday as a “preventative measure” while the agency addresses an “attempted security breach.”

In a statement, BC Housing told CTV News the cybersecurity incident was detected on Jan. 20, but was caught “before any data was compromised.”

“BC Housing is committed to online security and proactively monitors systems with the highest diligence,” the statement added. “BC Housing appreciates people’s patience as we safely bring the systems back online.”

The agency expects to restore services in the “coming days,” according to its public message, which also promised an update no later than Feb. 3.

Affordable housing applicants can phone [phone] for support in the meantime.