'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Shannon Salter spoke to reporters on Friday, disclosing the first breach detected by government teams was April 10. On April 11, Salter said, Microsoft’s cybersecurity response team, DART, was enlisted to assist as was the Canadian Cyber Centre.
Salter insisted that there is no evidence at this point that any sensitive information was compromised.
Further “incidents” took place on April 29 and May 5 by the same “threat actor” and it wasn’t until May 8 that the provincial cabinet was notified after a classified briefing with the cyber centre. Premier David Eby was briefed on April 17.
“The province is doing a significant amount of work in this area and we have a staff within citizens services, of 76, whose sole focus is security of government information systems,” said Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth. “The reality is, this is the world we live in and it is constantly evolving and government places a high priority on evolving and keeping up with the changes we're seeing.”
‘The criminal has the advantage’
When CTV News asked whether the activity against B.C.'s systems is related to Russian state-backed hackers accessing Microsoft systems, leading to warnings for American government agencies, Salter would not comment. Microsoft Canada also declined commment.
Several cybersecurity experts who’ve discussed the province’s cybersecurity breaches with CTV News support the NDP’s decision to wait to get a handle on the situation before going public.
“There's a lot of reasons to keep it secret, especially from a national security perspective, and I would not think that's unusual,” said Chester Wisniewski, director of global technology operations for Sophos. “The criminal has the advantage here in many ways, because you've been caught off guard, you're trying to figure out the extent of the damage.”
He doesn’t believe there’s a link to the London Drugs hack, and suspects espionage by a foreign government is mostly likely based on what provincial officials have disclosed. He also warned the public to expect the investigation to take many months, if not longer.
The public’s right to know
The British Columbia Freedom of Information and Privacy Association emphasized the government has full responsibility to secure the wealth of information in its possession – from tax filings to medical records – along with a moral and legal responsibility to provide further details of the breaches.
“Many institutions get hit with this on a regular basis, but something on this scale of this nature with this level of sophistication is deeply concerning,” said FIPA CEO Mike Larsen. “The public has a right to know who is attacking B.C.'s public information systems and how government is planning to respond.”
Farnworth promised that government would do just that.
“The investigation is ongoing and we will continue to be as transparent as possible as it unfolds,” he told reporters. “After the conclusion of the incident, there will of course be a complete review of the incident and government’s response to ensure we're capturing any lessons that we have learned.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPs 'wittingly' took part in foreign interference: national security committee
A new report says some MPs began 'wittingly assisting' foreign state actors soon after their election, including sending confidential information to Indian officials.
More Canadians are moving to the U.S. Here's one of the main reasons, according to an immigration expert
Recent data from the U.S. census revealed that more than 126,000 people moved from Canada to the U.S. in 2022. An expert said that one of the main reasons for this move is the cost of living.
Bus carrying Quebec tourists crashes in Cuba, leaving 1 dead and 26 injured
One person is dead and 26 were injured after a bus carrying Quebec tourists was involved in a collision in Cuba on Sunday.
Her gut was producing alcohol. Doctors didn't believe her
For two years doctors told her she was an alcoholic. Then they realized her gut was making alcohol from carbohydrates, a rare condition called auto-brewery syndrome.
Here's how far B.C. drivers must keep from cyclists, pedestrians under new law
A new law protecting cyclists and pedestrians in British Columbia takes effect Monday, establishing minimum distances that drivers must keep from so-called vulnerable road users.
Forest bathing: What is it is and why some Alberta doctors recommend it
Many people are familiar with the benefits of being in nature, but forest therapy goes a step further than a simple walk in the woods.
Poilievre says same-sex marriage 'will remain legal when I am prime minister, full stop'
Facing scrutiny over comments one of his MPs made, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says if he become prime minister, he will uphold same sex marriage rights, 'full stop.'
'They need this protection': Trudeau gov't re-offers $1.5M for enhanced Pride security in Canada
For the second year, the federal government is offering up to $1.5M to Pride organizations across the country to fund enhanced security measures, amid a continued rise in anti-LGBTQ2S+ hate.
Elected leaders should read Supreme Court decisions before speaking, says top justice
The chief justice of the Supreme Court is sending a warning about the risks elected officials run by reacting to decisions from the court without first having read the rulings themselves.