Canada’s cyber defence agency has identified over 1,500 websites falsely parading as Government of Canada COVID-19 pages that are in fact designed to scam Canadians.
In a new report on COVID-19-related cyber threat activity, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) says healthcare and medical research facilities, Canadians employed in “areas of strategic interest” working from home, and financial institutions are under increasing threat from cyber threat actors.
“Cyber threat actors of varying motivations and sophistication have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic in recent months as a thematic lure or subterfuge for their malicious activities, such as cyberespionage and cybercrime,” the CCCS writes in a report based on both classified and unclassified sources.
Of particular interest to cybercriminals, and particularly state-sponsored ones, is Canada’s healthcare and medical research sector.
In some cases, the cyber threat actors use software such as ransomware to extort money out of healthcare organizations such as medical clinics and hospitals.
If employees and organizations aren’t attentive to potential cyber security issues, the impacts could be major, CCCS warns.
“Ransomware attacks against healthcare providers, research facilities, and medical manufacturers will have negative consequences on patient care and hinder the development and production of Canadian medical research and domestic supply chains,” reads the report.
In other cases, foreign intelligence services are targeting research facilities in the hopes of stealing intellectual property related to the COVID-19 virus and potential treatments.
“State intelligence collection requirements have shifted in response to COVID-19. We judge it is almost certain that cyber espionage directed at Canada will continue to attempt to steal Canadian intellectual property relating to COVID-19 medical research, as well as classified information regarding Government of Canada responses,” the centre warns.
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