With only weeks left before tax reports must be filed, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) shut down its website “To protect the security of taxpayer information, we have temporarily shutdown public access to our electronic services.”
In a statement on its website the agency says “We have received information concerning an Internet security vulnerability named the Heartbleed Bug. As a preventative measure, the CRA has temporarily shut down public access to our online services to safeguard the integrity of the information we hold. Applications include online services like EFILE, NETFILE, My Account, My Business Account and Represent a Client.”
The statement points out the agency “recognizes that this problem may represent a significant inconvenience for individual Canadians, representatives and businesses that count on the CRA for online information and services.”
And the agency promises regular updates “at 3PM EST on our home page until the situation is resolved.”
Canada’s Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay called the shutdown a precautionary measure. “Last night CRA was made aware that the ‘Heartbleed’ bug meant that there were some Internet systems vulnerabilities potentially that we should investigate,” she told reporters in Ottawa.
A smaller notice on the bottom of the agency’s website has another warning: “The CRA is warning Canadians that fraudulent emails and phone calls purporting to be from the Agency are currently being reported. Find out more about these scams and learn how you can protect yourself.”
More information:
Statement from the Canada Revenue Agency – here
CBC News – Heartbleed bug prompts Revenue Canada website shutdown – here
CTV News – Security concerns prompt tax agency to shut down website – here
CBC News – Heartbleed bug may expose your private data – here
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