Federal government investigating cyberattack amid tensions with Russia

OTTAWA - Federal cybersecurity businesses confirmed Monday a current cyberattack towards International Affairs Canada amid escalating tensions over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The federal authorities isn't saying who it suspects was behind the Jan. 19 assault, which has left some diplomats with out entry to some on-line companies nearly per week later.

However the assault got here at some point earlier than the Canadian Centre for Cyber Safety urged firms to bolster protections towards the potential for Russian-backed assaults.

The Treasury Board, which confirmed the incident, mentioned “mitigation actions had been taken” afterwards, but it surely supplied no further particulars.

“The Authorities of Canada offers with ongoing and protracted cyber dangers and threats on daily basis,” it mentioned.

“Cyberthreats may result from system or utility vulnerabilities, or from deliberate, persistent, focused assaults by outdoors actors to realize entry to info.”

Moscow is at the moment in a navy standoff with Canada and its NATO allies over Russia’s navy construct up on the border with Ukraine, which was additionally the goal of an enormous cyberattack on Jan. 16.

Ukrainian officers have blamed Russia for the assault, which Moscow has denied.

Russia has positioned about 100,000 troops throughout Ukraine’s borders together with tanks and different heavy artillery, stoking fears throughout Europe of an invasion, one thing Russia has denied.

Tensions escalated on Monday because the U.S. positioned 8,500 troops on heightened alert in Europe.

NATO, in the meantime, in an try to indicate heightened solidarity additionally introduced a collection of what it referred to as “enhanced deterrence and defence” deployments of ships, fighter jets and troops.

Denmark was a sending a frigate to the Baltic Sea and 4 F-16 fighter jets to Lithuania. Spain was sending ships, and was contemplating sending fighter jets to Bulgaria. France mentioned it was ready to ship troops to Romania beneath NATO command. The Netherlands deliberate to ship a pair of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Bulgaria. The U.S. mentioned it was contemplating rising its navy presence in japanese Europe.

“NATO will proceed to take all needed measures to guard and defend all allies, together with by reinforcing the japanese a part of the alliance,” mentioned NATO Secretary-Basic Jens Stoltenberg.

“We are going to at all times reply to any deterioration of our safety surroundings, together with by means of strengthening our collective defence.”

Britain mentioned it could pull a few of its diplomats out of its Ukraine embassy, after the U.S. mentioned it was ordering the households of embassy personnel to depart.

International Affairs Canada mentioned it couldn't focus on Canadian diplomatic plans in Ukraine for safety causes.

“There are a lot of contingency plans in place. The security of Canadian diplomats and their households is, after all, paramount, and we'll proceed to be there for Ukraine and make sure the security of Canadians and Ukrainians,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned Monday.

The Russia-Ukraine standoff is excessive on the agenda as Trudeau and his cupboard maintain a three-day digital retreat that ends Wednesday.

“That is one thing that issues deeply to us. And I can let you know that we are going to be wanting on the state of affairs in Ukraine as a part of our cupboard discussions over the following three days,” mentioned Trudeau.

On Monday night, International Affairs Canada added stronger language to its advisory warning Canadians towards non-essential journey to Ukraine, which has been in impact since final week.

The advisory now suggests Canadians who're in Ukraine think about leaving.

“In case you are in Ukraine, it is best to consider in case your presence is important,” says the brand new message, which International Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly additionally posted to Twitter.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 24, 2022.