Desjardins, the largest federation of credit unions in North America, has headlined data leak news.

The company has compromised personal information of 2.9 million members. The data of 2.7 million individuals and 173,000 businesses has been leaked by an insider – a Desjardins employee who has been fired since.

Names, social insurance numbers, addresses, phones, emails were among the exposed details. Passwords, PINs, and security questions weren’t revealed.

According to Guy Cormier, company’s president and CEO, all those who will face financial issues ensued from the leakage will have their losses reimbursed.

The leak occurred due to an unauthorised and malicious use of sensitive information by a staff member who has already been dismissed.

The work of computer systems wasn’t sabotaged, it is an employee leak and doesn’t fall into a cyberattack category.

Affected members will be contacted, briefed and provided with a free credit monitoring program and identity theft insurance during one year.