BVIEC Information Technology Manager Mr. Kelvin Eubanks confirmed on November 4, 2024, that the online system was not directly affected by the August 15, 2024, ransomware attack. Photo: Facebook/JTV Channel 55

From November 4, 2024, BVIEC customers can access the online payment portal with the same login and password used prior to the system being offline following a ransomware attack. Photo: BVIEC

BVIEC experienced a cyber-attack on August 15, 2024, and most systems compromised were recovered by September 25, 2024.

In an interview with Cathy O Richards of JTV Channel 55 on Monday, November 4, 2024, Information Technology Manager Mr Kelvin Eubanks confirmed that the online system was not directly affected by the ransomware attack.

“I know a lot of customers are concerned about their credit card information. Just to assure them that when we did our forensics and we had an outside expert assist us with going through the forensics to see what had happened, there was no evidence that they had breached our online payment system, there was no evidence that the credit card information had gotten out,” he explained.

Increased cyber security

He went further to reveal that their investigations brought them to the dark web where information is “exchanged”, and no evidence of customer information was found “in these digital areas”.

In September, BVIEC assured customers that the forensic experts had determined there was no “clear sign of a breach of the online service”, however, the online payment portal was kept offline until this past weekend. Customers were finally able to access the online portal on Monday.

Mr Eubanks said the system has been restored to where it was originally. To customers, he explained, “You will have the same login, same password.” He also gave the assurance that security enhancements have been made to the background of the online system.