Toronto Zoo ransomware crooks snatch decades of visitor data

Toronto Zoo's final update on its January 2024 cyberattack arrived this week, revealing that visitor data going back to 2000 had been compromised.

It said everyone who purchased a general admission ticket or zoo membership between 2000 and April 2023 had their personal data stolen by ransomware crooks in the digital heist.

First and last names were stolen, as were home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses "in some records." For those who made credit card transactions between January 2022 and April 2023, card details such as the last four digits of the number and expiration dates were also lifted.

"Phishing and online fraud is ever present today," the update reads. "We encourage those affected and all our guests and members to be vigilant, and to carefully examine uninvited and suspicious communications and to regularly check financial account statements.

"Your Toronto Zoo has reported this matter to the Office ...