Fighting Cybercrime Rising in Canada-PlanetWeb.ca

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the threat of hacking and cybercrime has increased at an alarming rate. Many people and even official websites have been hacked and pose threats to the use of online platforms and the information they provide. It was even a big question mark, as with Covid-19 virtually everyone switched to work.

Manitoba has worked with Ottawa to temporarily shut down its website to increase protection against cybercrime and hacking, especially the increasing ransomware attacks in Canada, making Canada one of the top targets for cyberattacks. It was in the country.

Risks to face with cyber threats

Sami Khoury, head of the government-run Canadian Cyber ​​Security Center, said Canada is one of the top countries affected by cybercrime and the government advises on sound systems to protect against cybercrime. I said it was necessary. Hackers are advancing and states need to protect themselves accordingly.

The Covid-19 pandemic made it easy for hackers to pursue malicious activities. This is because the entire workload leaves the office protection and encrypted computer systems to the unprotected systems used at home. Hackers are refining system vulnerabilities in the transition to telecommuting, if this increase and lack of protection against cyberattacks could lead to national and international threats, Khoury said. ..

Not long ago, the Newfoundland and Labrador medical systems faced a massive ransomware cyberattack. Healthcare workers have been forced to use paper and manual systems for the first time in decades. This attack further puts residents and the general public at risk of identity fraud. Hackers hack data and demand large sums of money to return the data in return.

How do hackers get the data?

According to federal government data, the average ransom paid by the public and private sectors surged from $ 25,000 in early 2019 to $ 300,000 in 2019 for telecommuting. The fall payment was about $ 175,000. Ransomware hacking usually begins with phishing. Victims receive an email that looks like a trusted source and a link within that email that directs someone to a government login site or government site. Hackers get a username and password. Such emails may also contain invoices or receipts that contain the virus.

In such cases, hackers steal as much data as possible, encrypt the data, lock out the original owner of the data, and threaten to sell the data unless a certain amount of money is paid. Next, a ransom is required. This is usually paid in cryptocurrency (to protect the anonymity of hackers).

What is being done for protection?

As cyberattacks increase, Khoury’s federal group has issued guidance on preventing and monitoring ransomware attacks.

Eddie Philips, a cybersecurity expert at Manitoba, said businesses and governments are not fully concerned about the threat posed by cyberattacks. He said companies must have a recovery time objective (RTO). He further stated that large companies need a disaster recovery plan that includes a backup database that workers can use.

The Health and Manitoba Government said it has a backup database and recovery goals divided between departments. We have also revamped cybersecurity systems that help protect employee systems across networks.

Governments are doing a lot to counter the growing threat of cybercrime. Pandemics have changed the entire network of people’s ways of working and interacting. Philips needs training to prevent cyberattacks, and every company or company needs to take steps not only to protect its systems, but also to train its employees on possible threats and how to prevent them. Said. In some cases, hackers need to open small windows that can break in and steal important information. Education and training can help prevent cyber attacks.