cybersecurity

Federal privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne speaks at a press conference in Ottawa, on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. The federal privacy watchdog and some of his global counterparts are urging the largest social media companies to prevent bulk extraction of personal details from their websites. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Canada wants big tech to step up on data scraping protection

Prevent illegal mass data extraction, privacy authorities tell social media firms

Federal privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne speaks at a press conference in Ottawa, on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. The federal privacy watchdog and some of his global counterparts are urging the largest social media companies to prevent bulk extraction of personal details from their websites. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Auditor-General Michael Pickup calls on post-secondary institutions across B.C. to review his audit of Vancouver Island University, which found its board failing to oversee policies and strategies critical to protecting information systems and data. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. auditor-general hopes university cybersecurity audit sparks broad change

AG: Vancouver Island University issues should encourage institutions to assess cybersecurity

Auditor-General Michael Pickup calls on post-secondary institutions across B.C. to review his audit of Vancouver Island University, which found its board failing to oversee policies and strategies critical to protecting information systems and data. (Black Press Media file photo)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks during an announcement, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, June 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Cyberattack on B.C. health websites may have taken personal information

240,000 email addresses may have had their personal data compromised

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks during an announcement, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, June 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Jen Easterly, director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, speaks on Feb. 16, 2023, in Washington. Metro Vancouver Transit Police say the agency was targeted by hackers who accessed almost 200 of its files, as part of a global wave of attacks that U.S. officials have blamed on a Russian cyber-extortion gang. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Patrick Semansky

Metro Vancouver Transit Police files hacked in raid linked to Russian extortion gang

Other agencies targeted in Louisiana, Oregon, Nova Scotia and the UK

Jen Easterly, director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, speaks on Feb. 16, 2023, in Washington. Metro Vancouver Transit Police say the agency was targeted by hackers who accessed almost 200 of its files, as part of a global wave of attacks that U.S. officials have blamed on a Russian cyber-extortion gang. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Patrick Semansky
Supporters of TikTok hold signs during a rally to defend the app, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at the Capitol in Washington. The House holds a hearing Thursday, with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about the platform’s consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on kids. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Gap grows between TikTok users, U.S. lawmakers on potential ban

Government concerned about security threat from China, but users don’t want to lose favourite app

Supporters of TikTok hold signs during a rally to defend the app, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at the Capitol in Washington. The House holds a hearing Thursday, with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about the platform’s consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on kids. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
The TikTok startup page is displayed on an iPhone in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. The Broadbent Institute is keeping TikTok as a sponsor during their upcoming conference, despite rising national security concerns from the government of Canada regarding the popular app. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

TikTok to remain sponsor at Broadbent Institute conference despite security concerns

Social media app banned from federal employees’ work phones while Canada reviews its use

The TikTok startup page is displayed on an iPhone in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. The Broadbent Institute is keeping TikTok as a sponsor during their upcoming conference, despite rising national security concerns from the government of Canada regarding the popular app. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A blurred screenshot shows that Vice Society has released the Okanagan College data. (Brett Carrow/Submitted)

Hackers follow through with threats to release Okanagan College data

Over 800GB of sensitive data put on dark web

A blurred screenshot shows that Vice Society has released the Okanagan College data. (Brett Carrow/Submitted)
A woman uses a computer keyboard in North Vancouver on December, 19, 2012. A wave of cybercrime has recently hit hospitals, businesses and organizations, including Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children in mid-December and the Toronto Transit Commission in late October, with the most recent impacting LCBO’s website and mobile app beginning Tuesday evening.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

As cyberattack reports climb in Canada, experts look at why and how to protect yourselves

‘This is a serious problem, a serious challenge, that is becoming increasingly severe’

A woman uses a computer keyboard in North Vancouver on December, 19, 2012. A wave of cybercrime has recently hit hospitals, businesses and organizations, including Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children in mid-December and the Toronto Transit Commission in late October, with the most recent impacting LCBO’s website and mobile app beginning Tuesday evening.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Toronto Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto is shown on Thursday April 5, 2018. A global ransomware operator issued an apology and offered to unlock the data targeted in a ransomware attack on Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, a move cybersecurity experts say is rare, if not unprecedented, for the infamous group. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives

Ransomware group LockBit apologizes saying ‘partner’ was behind SickKids attack

LockBit issued brief apology on Dec. 31 to what cybersecurity experts say is its dark web page

Toronto Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto is shown on Thursday April 5, 2018. A global ransomware operator issued an apology and offered to unlock the data targeted in a ransomware attack on Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, a move cybersecurity experts say is rare, if not unprecedented, for the infamous group. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives
Hands type on a keyboard in North Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday, December, 19, 2012. A new research report says federal cybersecurity legislation is so flawed it would allow authoritarian governments around the world to justify their own repressive laws.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Liberal cybersecurity bill a ‘bad law’ that must be amended, research report warns

Report says powers sought by Ottawa insufficiently bounded, come with overly broad secrecy clauses

Hands type on a keyboard in North Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday, December, 19, 2012. A new research report says federal cybersecurity legislation is so flawed it would allow authoritarian governments around the world to justify their own repressive laws.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A border officer walks past security cameras at the Thousand Islands border, near Gananqoue, Ont., Monday, March 16, 2020. The federal privacy watchdog says a data breach at a contractor for Canada’s border agency involved as many as 1.38 million licence plate images. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Data breach at border agency contractor involved up to 1.38 million licence plates

Report tabled Thursday in Parliament as part of privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne annual report

A border officer walks past security cameras at the Thousand Islands border, near Gananqoue, Ont., Monday, March 16, 2020. The federal privacy watchdog says a data breach at a contractor for Canada’s border agency involved as many as 1.38 million licence plate images. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
A woman uses her computer keyboard in North Vancouver, B.C., on December, 19, 2012. A new academic analysis has identified at least 75 foreign digital operations of a malicious political or industrial nature directed at Canada since 2010 – from attempts to steal COVID-19-related research to the targeting of Uyghur human rights activists. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Dozens of cyberespionage operations perpetrated against Canada since 2010: study

Information technology, energy, finance and aerospace industries frequent targets

A woman uses her computer keyboard in North Vancouver, B.C., on December, 19, 2012. A new academic analysis has identified at least 75 foreign digital operations of a malicious political or industrial nature directed at Canada since 2010 – from attempts to steal COVID-19-related research to the targeting of Uyghur human rights activists. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
FILE - The Twitter application is seen on a digital device Monday, April 25, 2022, in San Diego. A recent bombshell whistleblower report from Twitter’s former head of security alleges that the social media company has been negligently lax on cybersecurity and privacy protections for its users for years. While worrisome for anyone on Twitter, the revelations could be especially concerning for those who use it to reach constituencies, get news out about emergencies and for political dissidents and activists in the crosshairs of hackers or their own governments. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

‘Tape or chewing gum:’ Twitter’s lapses echo worldwide

Whistleblower report reveals serious flaws in social media giant’s security system

FILE - The Twitter application is seen on a digital device Monday, April 25, 2022, in San Diego. A recent bombshell whistleblower report from Twitter’s former head of security alleges that the social media company has been negligently lax on cybersecurity and privacy protections for its users for years. While worrisome for anyone on Twitter, the revelations could be especially concerning for those who use it to reach constituencies, get news out about emergencies and for political dissidents and activists in the crosshairs of hackers or their own governments. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police “E” Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on April 13, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police “E” Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on April 13, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, June 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

‘Deepfakes’ and disinformation should fall under online hate law: advisory panel

Canada is being targeted by Russia to influence public opinion here, a recent analysis shows

Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, June 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
A woman uses her computer keyboard to type while surfing the internet in North Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. Businesses and other private-sector organizations would be required to report ransomware incidents and other cyberattacks to the government under a federal bill to be tabled today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Key enterprises could face penalties under federal bill to bolster cybersecurity

New legislation targets telecommunications, finance, energy and transportation sectors

A woman uses her computer keyboard to type while surfing the internet in North Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. Businesses and other private-sector organizations would be required to report ransomware incidents and other cyberattacks to the government under a federal bill to be tabled today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne rises during Question Period, Monday, April 25, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada presses for G7 quick-reaction group on cybersecurity after Ukraine invasion

Proposed cybersecurity working group would help better prepare Canada and its allies

Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne rises during Question Period, Monday, April 25, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Edmonton-Southwest MLA Thomas Dang (centre) laughs along with his colleagues during an introductory meeting with all newly-elected MLAs in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 12, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

Alberta MLA says he felt obligated to hack government website, used premier’s info

Thomas Dang under police investigation, says intent was to protect private information of Albertans

Edmonton-Southwest MLA Thomas Dang (centre) laughs along with his colleagues during an introductory meeting with all newly-elected MLAs in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 12, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken
A sign outside the Canada Revenue Agency is seen Monday May 10, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada Revenue Agency website remains down for 3rd day due to cybersecurity issues

CRA has not provided an estimated time of reopening

A sign outside the Canada Revenue Agency is seen Monday May 10, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
John Haggie, Newfoundland and Labrador minister of health and community services responds to a reporter’s questions in Winnipeg, Thursday, June 28, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Suspected cyberattack in N.L. hits ‘brain’ of province’s health-care system

SItuation leads to cancellation of several non-emergency medical appointments and procedures

John Haggie, Newfoundland and Labrador minister of health and community services responds to a reporter’s questions in Winnipeg, Thursday, June 28, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods