A report published by the Canadian Cyber Security Centre , titled “National Cyber Threat Assessment 2020,” warns of risks associated with state-sponsored hackers from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. The report identifies existing cyber threats, the potential for new threats to emerge , and how Canadians could be affected by them.
Specifically, the report states that malicious actors in cyberspace are becoming more numerous and sophisticated, with cybercrime a threat that is likely to affect Canadians. In addition, ransomware attacks will increasingly target large businesses and critical infrastructure providers in the country.
Hackers from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are targeting critical Canadian infrastructure, including the electricity sector. Hackers associated with these countries pose the greatest strategic threats to Canada and, according to the report, will continue to try to steal important data from Canada, including that related to COVID-19. Hackers are orchestrating espionage as well as online influence campaigns.
The report also states that other nations are rapidly developing their cyber capabilities, which is why the Canadian government believes hackers will continue to target its businesses, universities and governments.
Furthermore, the report emphasizes that defending Canada against cyber threats and related influence operations requires addressing both the technical and social elements of cyber threat activity. Investments in cybersecurity will allow Canadians to benefit from new technologieswhile ensuring that the country's safety, privacy, economic well-being and national security are not unfairly compromised.
Finally, the report notes that strengthening Canada's security is approached through collaboration, combining the expertise of government, industry and academia.
