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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Organized cybercrime is set to pose a threat to Canada's national security and economic prosperity over the next two years, the national signal intelligence agency said on Monday.
In a report, the Communications Security Establishment identified Russia and Iran as cybercrime safe havens where criminals can operate against Western targets.
Ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure such as hospitals and pipelines can be particularly profitable, the report said, noting that cyber criminals continue to show resilience and an ability to innovate their business model.
"Organized cybercrime will very likely pose a threat to Canada's national security and economic prosperity over the next two years," said CSE, which is the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. National Security Agency.
"Ransomware is almost certainly the most disruptive form of cybercrime facing Canada because it is pervasive and can have a serious impact on an organization’s ability to function," it said.
Official data show that in 2022, there were 70,878 reports of cyber fraud in Canada with over C$530 million ($390 million)stolen.
Russian intelligence services and law enforcement almost certainly maintain relationships with cyber criminals and allow them to operate with near impunity as long as they focus on targets outside the former Soviet Union, CSE said.
Moscow has consistently denied that it carries out or supports hacking operations.
Tehran likely tolerates cybercrime activities by Iran-based
cyber criminals that align with the state's strategic and ideological interests, it added.
In July, CSE said Russia-aligned hackers could seek to disrupt Canada's powerful oil and natural gas sector, especially since Ottawa is a strong backer of Ukraine.
($1 = 1.3598 Canadian dollars)
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