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2 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 23, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Fraud or no fraud, Bell holds customer responsible Continued from page 1 over the Thanksgiving weekend. Since the calls during both breaches were made to either Austria or Sierra Leone, the final Bell Canada bill was substantial, weighing in at more than $60,000. In light of the fraud, Bell Canada reduced this bill to around $7,000, however, Cowan feels he should not have to pay anything as, he says, his company was not at fault. "Our position is, we bought the whole system off them, including the voicemail system. They installed it, and when they installed it, they didn't set any of the security required to prevent the hacking," said Cowan. "We've done everything we can, but they are holding us responsible because their technology is not secure." Cowan said after the first breach took place, his company immediately followed Bell's instructions and hired an independent telephone technician who worked with Bell to secure the GPS Consulting Group's lines. Despite this effort, the lines were breached again, and again GPS Consulting Group hired a technician who, under Bell's guidance, worked to secure the tele- PROTECT YOURSELF Julie Smithers, Bell Canada spokesperson, offers these tips to companies to protect their telephone security systems from being breached: · Employees should change the manufacturers default (voicemail) password. · Voicemail systems should be programmed to require passwords with at least six characters. · Employees should be encouraged to use difficult passwords, not easily guessed ones like their phone number or a simple number combination (eg.123456). · Never set passwords to a telephone's local number when assigning a telephone to a new employee. · Program your voicemail system to alter employee's passwords every 90 days. · Remove all unassigned mailboxes. The Oakville company did make a $2,000 payment to keep its account in good standing, but made it clear that it expects a full refund from Bell once this issue has been rectified. "This is a concern for any small business that uses Bell Canada services," said Cowan. "Anyone with a Bell Canada system needs to know Bell Canada is not willing to support their own hardware and software and are doing nothing to prevent it (hacking). I believe they need to be held accountable." Cowan has brought the issue to the attention of Oakville MP Terence Young and to the office of the Ombudsman of Bell Canada. LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS: Gordon Cowan, president of GPS Consulting Group, holds up his 38-page Bell Canada telephone bill for $7,000. The huge bill is the result of someone hacking into his company's phone system in October and quickly racking up $60,000 worth of overseas long distance phone calls. In light of the fraud, Bell reduced the bill to $7,000, but Cowan says his company should not be on the hook for anything. incurred during the two breaches. phone lines. Bell Canada acknowledges "Under the terms of our servAt this point, everyone in the Cowan is the victim of fraud, howice, customers are responsible for GPS Consulting Group office also ever, as far as it is concerned, the all calls originating from and calls changed their voicemail passwords Oakville company still bears accepted at their telephones as an additional precaution. responsibility for the charges regardless of who made or accepted the calls," said Julie Smithers, Bell Canada spokesperson. "As a goodwill gesture we did reduce the bill significantly from $60,000 to $7,000. The $7,000 represents the lowest amount possible for long distance to the counoyster perpetual tries called." oyster perpetual datejust turn-o-graph Bell Canada further noted that datejust turn-o-graph steel and 18kt yellow gold if the bill was not paid by Jan. 15, service to GPS Consulting Group would be disconnected. FourFloors of Showrooms Wrong name Correction The story Transitions for Youth asks Region for life support, in the Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, Jan. 21 edition, about a presentation made to the Halton Region's health and social services committee seeking government support for Transitions for Youth (TFY), contained an error. The presenter, Joe Potter, was representing TFY staff, who are members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). As previously reported, Transitions for Youth is set for closure Feb. 27. The agency's intention is to work with its funders to hopefully see its programs divested to other agencies. The Oakville Beaver apologizes for the errors and any inconvenience they may have caused. · Durham · Canadel · Leathercraft · Brunetti · · · · BG Furniture Vogel Buhler Superstyle & more! Proudly supporting Canadian Manufacturers Store will be closed for vacation the week of January 26 217 Lakeshore Road East Downtown Oakville Since 1953 CORRECTION: In the front page picture Oh happy day in the Wednesday, Jan. 21 Oakville Beaver, Kaminda Musumbulwa's name was incorrect. The Oakville Beaver regrets the error. www.swissinteriors.com 905.844.3530 If you have a news tip or story idea, call the Oakville Beaver at 905-845-3824.