Canada’s government faces cyberattacks from hostile foreign actors on an ongoing basis, with attacks on private businesses also increasing. Sami Khoury, who heads the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, part of the Canadian Security Establishment (CSE) intelligence agency, highlights the need for critical industries and Canadians to educate and protect themselves. Khoury explains that efforts are underway to implement protections and collaborate with corporations. However, he emphasizes that Russia and Russian-aligned hackers are intensifying their efforts to disrupt critical infrastructure.
Khoury reveals that the government blocks billions of malicious signals daily, utilizing automated systems to detect vulnerabilities. He also notes the occurrence of incidents in the private sector. The CSE recently issued a threat assessment warning of Russian-aligned hackers potentially targeting Canada’s oil and natural gas sector, given Ottawa’s support for Ukraine. The assessment highlights Russia’s history of deploying destructive cyberattacks during geopolitical crises and expects these attacks to persist. It underscores the vulnerability of Canada’s oil and gas infrastructure and the potential impact of an attack on US assets due to cross-border integration.
To mitigate the risks, the CSE has briefed energy company CEOs on the threat and provided guidance on enhancing protections. Khoury warns that a disruptive cyberattack on the energy sector would have catastrophic consequences, affecting critical industries like finance, transportation, and government that rely on oil and gas for essential services. He calls for increased resilience within companies and emphasizes that everyone must be aware of the threat.
Khoury cites the 2021 ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline in the United States as a case study for Canada to learn from. He points out that ransomware attacks are escalating and could become more severe, necessitating stronger cybersecurity measures for energy companies. He also mentions the potential theft of sensitive information by hostile foreign actors, such as Russia. Canada must recognize Russia as a sophisticated cyber adversary and remain vigilant by leveraging intelligence operations and partnerships with allies to detect and warn of cyber threats.
Legislation introduced in Parliament aims to compel critical industries to protect themselves from cyberattacks, with penalties for noncompliance. The bill has passed second reading in the House of Commons but awaits discussion in the standing committee on public safety and national security. Khoury highlights the successful collaboration between the Cyber Centre and the private sector in providing education and advice, with companies increasingly investing in their cybersecurity resilience.
Khoury advises Canadians to take measures to protect themselves from cyberattacks and information theft. He recommends being cautious when granting access to personal information, particularly to smartphone or computer apps. Declining unnecessary access requests, such as contacts, calendar, and geolocation data, can help minimize exposure. Regarding controversial apps like TikTok, Khoury acknowledges that concerns ultimately depend on personal decisions, even for private companies, despite the government’s previous ban on the video-sharing platform.
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