Canada Blames Chinese Hackers for Cyberattack on Telecom Infrastructure

Canada’s top cybersecurity agency has warned that hackers linked to the Chinese government are behind a recent cyberattack on the country’s telecommunications systems. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security said the hackers targeted critical telecom equipment and are likely backed by China’s government.

In a joint alert with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the agency said a group called “Salt Typhoon” was responsible. This group is believed to work closely with the Chinese state and has been involved in other cyberattacks in the past.

The cyberattack compromised at least three network devices registered to a Canadian company. Authorities said this is just one part of a larger hacking campaign that may affect more than just the telecom sector.

“The Cyber Centre is aware of malicious cyber activities currently targeting Canadian telecommunications companies. The responsible actors are almost certainly PRC state-sponsored actors, specifically Salt Typhoon,” the agency said, referring to the People’s Republic of China.

The warning urges Canadian businesses, especially those in critical industries like telecom, to tighten their cybersecurity measures immediately. The agency said it expects these types of attacks to continue for the next two years.

While Canada and the US have both blamed China for Salt Typhoon’s activities, Beijing has strongly denied any connection to the group. In January, the US imposed sanctions on a Chinese tech company and China’s Ministry of State Security for alleged involvement in similar cyberattacks.

The situation highlights growing tensions between China and Western countries over cybersecurity and the protection of critical infrastructure.