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Hacktivists have breached Canada's critical infrastructure, exploiting internet-facing industrial control systems (ICS) devices to gain attention, discredit organizations, and harm the country's image. The breach has left experts worried about potential risks to public safety and the country's industrial control systems.
Hacktivists have breached Canada's critical infrastructure, exploiting internet-facing industrial control systems (ICS) devices. The breach has left experts worried about potential risks to public safety and the country's industrial control systems. The attackers exploited systems in water treatment facilities, oil and gas firms, and agricultural facilities. Unclear roles and poor coordination often leave vital systems exposed, emphasizes the need for collaboration and proactive measures. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security recommends prioritizing cybersecurity to protect critical infrastructure from growing threats.
Canada's critical infrastructure has been breached by hacktivists, according to a warning issued by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. The breach, which was detected recently, has left experts worried about the potential risks to public safety and the country's industrial control systems.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security revealed that the hacktivists had repeatedly breached systems of critical infrastructure in Canada, including a water treatment facility, an oil and gas firm, and an agricultural facility. The attackers exploited internet-facing industrial control systems (ICS) devices to gain attention, discredit organizations, and harm Canada's image. They aimed at compromising Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Building Management Systems (BMS), and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems, putting public safety at risk.
The breach was detected after the attackers tampered with water pressure values in a water treatment facility, resulting in degraded service for its community. Another incident involved a Canadian oil and gas company, where an Automated Tank Gauge (ATG) was manipulated, triggering false alarms. A third incident involved a grain drying silo on a Canadian farm, where temperature and humidity levels were manipulated, resulting in potentially unsafe conditions if not caught on time.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security warns that unclear roles and poor coordination often leave vital systems exposed. Governments, municipalities, and organizations must clearly define responsibilities, collaborate closely, and secure all services, especially in sectors like Water, Food, and Manufacturing where no cybersecurity oversight exists.
Each organization should maintain an up-to-date inventory of internet-accessible ICS devices, replace direct exposure with Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and two-factor authentication, and apply the Cyber Centre's Readiness Goals to strengthen defenses. When exposure is unavoidable, teams should implement intrusion prevention systems, run regular penetration tests, and manage vulnerabilities continuously. Municipal and corporate leaders should work directly with vendors to ensure secure deployment, maintenance, and decommissioning of all systems.
Critical infrastructure organizations are recommended to execute regular tabletop exercises to refine coordination and improve response to incidents. If they detect suspicious activity, organizations should report it promptly to the Cyber Centre or RCMP to support Canada's nationwide effort to strengthen cyber resilience.
The breach of critical infrastructure in Canada highlights the growing threat of hacktivism and cyber attacks on industrial control systems. The use of legitimate tools by attackers raises concerns about the sophistication and cunning of these threats. As the world becomes increasingly dependent on technology, it is essential to recognize the importance of cybersecurity and take proactive measures to protect our critical infrastructure.
The warning issued by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and cooperation in the face of cyber threats. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration between governments, municipalities, and organizations to strengthen cybersecurity defenses. As we move forward, it is essential that we prioritize cybersecurity and take steps to protect our critical infrastructure from these growing threats.
Summary:
Hacktivists have breached Canada's critical infrastructure, exploiting internet-facing industrial control systems (ICS) devices to gain attention, discredit organizations, and harm the country's image. The breach has left experts worried about potential risks to public safety and the country's industrial control systems. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security warns of unclear roles and poor coordination often leaving vital systems exposed, emphasizing the need for collaboration and proactive measures to strengthen cybersecurity defenses.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Hacktivist-Breach-of-Critical-Infrastructure-A-New-Era-of-Cyber-Threats-in-Canada-ehn.shtml
https://securityaffairs.com/184007/hacktivism/hacktivists-breach-canadas-critical-infrastructure-cyber-agency-warns.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuD1AqOhUZc
Published: Wed Oct 29 16:49:54 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
