There’s an increasing amount of technology and data on farms and in the agricultural sector. But as farm equipment becomes more advanced and connected to the internet, there also are concerns they’ll become targets for cyberattacks, something that could also put Canada’s food security at risk. Ali Dehghantanha is a computer scientist at the University of Guelph and the… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Cyberattack
Colonial hack: How did cyber-attackers shut off pipeline?
How can a pipeline be hacked? For many people, the image of the oil industry is one of pipes, pumps and greasy black liquid. In truth, the type of modern operation Colonial Pipeline runs is extremely digital. Pressure sensors, thermostats, valves and pumps are used to monitor and control the flow of diesel, petrol and… Read more »
Hacker tries to poison water supply of Florida city
A computer hacker gained access to the water system of a city in Florida and tried to pump in a “dangerous” amount of a chemical, officials say. The hacker briefly increased the amount of sodium hydroxide (lye) in Oldsmar’s water treatment system, but a worker spotted it and reversed the action. Lye is used in… Read more »
Fake COVID notification apps and websites aim to steal money and personal data
Thousands of fake Canadian government websites, emails and apps that take advantage of the pandemic to try to mine personal data or steal money have been taken down in the last few months, according to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. The centre leads the federal government’s response to cyber-security events, defends Ottawa’s cyber assets and provides advice to… Read more »
State-sponsored actors ‘very likely’ looking to attack electricity supply, says intelligence agency
State-sponsored actors are “very likely” trying to shore up their cyber capabilities to attack Canada’s critical infrastructure — such as the electricity supply — to intimidate or to prepare for future online assaults, a new intelligence assessment warns. “As physical infrastructure and processes continue to be connected to the internet, cyber threat activity has followed, leading to increasing risk to… Read more »
Spy agency flags possible security breaches at Canadian pandemic research facilities
Canada’s cyber spy agency says authorities are investigating possible security breaches at Canadian organizations doing COVID-19-related research — less than a week after it warned that Canadian intellectual property linked to the pandemic is a “valuable target” for state-sponsored actors. “We’ve seen some compromises in research organizations that we’ve been helping to mitigate and we’re… Read more »
How Parks Canada’s online reservation system buckled — again — under the weight of would-be Banff campers
Before COVID-19 changed everything, Katt Hryciw was like tens of thousands of other people who hoped to secure a campsite in Banff National Park this summer. She set an alarm, woke up early on Jan. 8, the first day Banff reservations could be made, and sat poised at her computer. “And then as soon as it… Read more »
Coronavirus: How hackers are preying on fears of Covid-19
Security experts say a spike in email scams linked to coronavirus is the worst they have seen in years. Cyber-criminals are targeting individuals as well as industries, including aerospace, transport, manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare and insurance. Phishing emails written in English, French, Italian, Japanese, and Turkish languages have been found. Source: BBC Technology News Date: March… Read more »
Israeli soldiers duped by Hamas ‘fake women’ phone ruse
Dozens of Israeli soldiers have had their smartphones hacked by the Hamas militant group posing as women seeking attention, Israel’s military says. A spokesman said the soldiers were sent fake photos of young females and lured into downloading an app without knowing it could access their handsets. He said there was no “significant breach of… Read more »
How ransomware insurance that protects companies and communities can also embolden criminals
To town councillors in Essex, Ont., it sounded like an expensive, if necessary, proposal. At a public meeting last August, the town’s insurance provider pitched a new type of policy that he said a growing number of municipalities are buying: coverage against cyberattacks. “By purchasing this layer of protection, you can have a little peace of… Read more »
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