Canadian authorities have issued an urgent alert following multiple confirmed incidents where cybercriminals compromised internet-accessible Industrial Control Systems (ICS) devices protecting critical infrastructure across the nation.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police report that water treatment facilities, energy companies, and agricultural operations have fallen victim to coordinated attacks, raising serious concerns about the vulnerability of Canada’s essential services.
The scope of these attacks extends beyond isolated incidents. Hackers have successfully manipulated programmable logic controllers and automated systems at water facilities, deliberately tampering with pressure values that degraded service for entire communities.
In another case, attackers targeted a major Canadian oil and gas company, compromising an Automated Tank Gauge system that triggered false alarms.
A third incident involved a grain drying silo on a Canadian farm, where unauthorized actors manipulated temperature and humidity readings, potentially creating dangerous conditions if security teams had not detected the breach promptly.
Hacktivism Attacks Growing Rapidly
While sophisticated state-sponsored actors typically target specific organizations, Canadian authorities warn that hacktivists increasingly exploit vulnerable ICS devices as targets of opportunity.
These threat actors gain media attention, discredit organizations, and undermine Canada’s broader reputation by compromising systems that control essential services.
The Canadian public remains unaware of how close these attacks come to causing cascading failures across critical infrastructure.
Exposed components including Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), SCADA systems, and Building Management Systems (BMS) create substantial risks not only to individual organizations but to their clients and the wider Canadian population.
The interconnected nature of modern infrastructure means that a single compromised device can trigger failures affecting thousands of citizens.
Canadian authorities emphasize that unclear roles and responsibilities between organizations, municipalities, and provincial governments create dangerous security gaps.
Organizations must immediately conduct thorough inventories of all internet-accessible ICS devices and evaluate their necessity.
Where feasible, implementing Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) with two-factor authentication should replace direct internet exposure.
For systems that cannot be isolated, enhanced monitoring through Intrusion Prevention Systems and regular penetration testing becomes essential. Continuous vulnerability management throughout the device lifecycle is mandatory.
Provincial and territorial governments should coordinate with municipalities to ensure all critical infrastructure receives proper documentation and protection, particularly in sectors like water, food, and manufacturing that lack comprehensive regulatory cyber oversight.
Beyond technical measures, organizations must conduct regular tabletop exercises to evaluate incident response capabilities and clearly define roles during cyber emergencies.
Early reporting to both the Cyber Centre and local law enforcement enables coordinated investigations and mitigation efforts.
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