Canadian cyber agency urges ‘vigilance’ amid risk of Iran-linked cyber attacks

The Canadian Cyber Security Centre has warned Canada’s critical infrastructure operators to remain “vigilant” amid rising cyber risks as the Iran war intensifies. In a cyber threat bulletin issued on Monday, March 2, the Canadian government said that “Iran will very likely use its cyber program to respond to the joint US and Israel combat operations against Iran.”

The advisory cautioned that “Canadian critical infrastructure operators and other possible targeted entities should remain vigilant to threats posed by cyber actors aligned with Iranian interests.”

According to the bulletin, potential threats include “cyber attacks against critical infrastructure, cyber-enabled information operations, online harassment of military personnel and harassment and repression of diaspora and activist communities.”


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Critical infrastructure typically includes networks in sectors such as energy and utilities, finance, food supply chains, government, healthcare, water and transportation, Global News noted.

The statement also explained why Canada could be targeted despite not taking part directly in the US-led military action, noting, "Pro-Iran hacktivists will likely view Canada as a target for low-sophistication disruptive cyber activity due to Canada’s public support of the US/Israel military activity.”

The warning aligns with the Government of Canada’s most recent National Cyber Threat Assessment, which states that “Iran remains one of the most significant strategic cyber threats facing Canada, with state-sponsored and state-aligned cyber actors using cyber operations to advance broader geopolitical objectives.”

The cyber alert follows a joint statement released on Feb. 28 by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand during their India visit saying that “the Canadian government is closely following Iran-related hostilities throughout the Middle East and urges all Canadians in Iran to shelter in place. Canadians in the wider region should follow local advice and take all necessary precautions.”

Despite its recent hiccups with the US the statement also reaffirmed Ottawa’s position, adding that Canada “supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.”