July 23, 2021

Guard.me International Insurance, SFU’s provider of emergency medical insurance for international students, has informed us that an unauthorized third-party illegally accessed their computer network which resulted in a breach of client data.

Guard.me says they do not believe any of the personal information has been misused as a result of this incident and are directly notifying students, “out of an abundance of caution.” Guard.me is contacting affected SFU international and English Language and Culture Lifelong Learning students directly, beginning July 23. Due to the volume of affected students, it could take several weeks for all students to be notified.

We recognize how concerning it is for individuals who may have had personal data exposed. Guard.me is offering ID theft protection and monitoring services to everyone impacted.

To activate your identity protection or for any questions or concerns, please contact guard.me at 1-888-348-1946 (5am – 5pm PT) or collect at 1-905-752-6207 or email mediarelations@guard.me. Guard.me’s notification is online at guard.me/customernotice.php.

Cyberattacks are on the rise with increasingly sophisticated methods to gain entry into IT systems. Here are some steps that you can take to protect your privacy:

• Using the same passphrase/password for multiple systems can put your other accounts at risk.  If you use your guard.me passphrase for other websites or services, please change them immediately.
• Remain vigilant, as a standard practice, to the possibility of fraud and identity theft by reviewing your financial statements and accounts regularly for any unauthorized activity. Notify local law enforcement of any suspicious online activity.
• Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to learn how to protect yourself from scams and fraud.
• Visit getcybersafe.ca to learn about cyber security and the simple steps you can take to protect yourself online.
  
  

Guard.me is the largest provider of health insurance coverage to the international education market in Canada. They have assured us that they are working diligently and are committed to helping any of our current/former SFU students mitigate potential risks from this data breach.