Canada blames China for cyber-attack on science agency

30 Jul 2014

OTTAWA, CANADA: Canada accused China of hacking into the computers of its research and development arm, which partners with thousands of Canadians firms each year to roll out new technologies.

Canada's Communications Security Establishment claims hackers from China have broken into key strategic computers to steal sensitive, often scientific data. Image: Flickr

"Recently, the government of Canada, through the work of the Communications Security Establishment, detected and confirmed a cyber intrusion on the IT infrastructure of the National Research Council of Canada by a highly sophisticated Chinese state-sponsored hacker," said a government statement.

The NRC's computers, Ottawa went on to say, have been isolated from the broader Canadian government network as a precautionary measure.

"New security infrastructure is also being built to try to prevent future breaches, but that could take up to a year to complete," it said.

Areas of NRC scientific expertise include aerospace, astrophysics, energy and mining, health and medicine, ocean vessel engineering, and security and disruptive technologies.

China cyber-espionage has become a growing concern for many governments and companies, following several reports of breaches originating in that country in recent years.

Hackers using servers traced to China previously penetrated computer systems at Canada's Finance Department and Treasury Board.

China has always denied any hacking involvement.

A 19-year-old Canadian man was also arrested in April for allegedly stealing the personal data of 900 Canadian taxpayers' using the "Heartbleed" bug.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge

Source: I-Net Bridge

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