CSE Report: Chinese Cyberattacks Target Canadian Government Networks
The Canadian Communications Security Establishment (CSE) has reported extensive cyberattacks on government networks over the past five years. According to the report, Canada has been significantly impacted by cyber operations from China, aimed at advancing political and economic interests through espionage, intellectual property theft, and other actions that disrupt Canada.
Over the last four years, Chinese hackers have infiltrated more than 20 networks within Canadian government institutions, accessing critical information. CSE specialists assure that all known breaches have now been resolved. However, attackers expended substantial effort to probe the vulnerabilities of Canadian networks.
Certain attacks specifically targeted Canadian officials, particularly those who criticized Chinese authorities. Notably, one attack was directed at members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, as hackers attempted to access confidential information via email. Experts believe the primary objective of these operations is to gather intelligence that could bolster China’s strategic and economic standing. The frequency of attacks increased following diplomatic tensions between Canada and China. The report suggests that China seeks to monitor Canada’s responses on the international stage.
Beyond the government sector, Canadian companies have also come under threat. CSE reports that Chinese hackers are likely stealing commercially valuable data from Canadian enterprises and research institutions. China has shown interest in advanced technologies, including humanoid robotics, quantum computing, brain-computer interfaces, 6G networks, and aviation systems.
In addition to China, CSE identifies Iran and India among Canada’s cyber threats. Canada and India previously shared strong relations rooted in democratic values, but tensions between the countries escalated last year. In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of involvement in the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Following this, Canadian military and parliamentary structures experienced attacks from independent Indian hackers with political motivations.
The CSE report further emphasizes that the actions of motivated hacktivists add significant challenges to ensuring cybersecurity, posing a threat to the country’s critical infrastructure.
