B.C. confident that cybersecurity attacks on government were state directed

VICTORIA — The head of British Columbia’s public service says there’s high confidence that cybersecurity attacks targeting the provincial government’s networks were conducted by a state or state-sponsored actor.

Shannon Salter, who is also deputy minister to the premier, says there’s no evidence sensitive information was compromised.

The incidents were revealed on Wednesday by Premier David Eby who called the attacks “sophisticated.”

Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said later that police were involved in the investigation, as well as the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.

Salter says she can’t comment on whether the government knows the identity of the state or state-sponsored actor.

The government cyberattack came amid other incidents in the province in recent weeks, including hackers targeting B.C. libraries, and an attack that forced retailer London Drugs to shut its stores across Western Canada for more than a week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 10, 2024.

The Canadian Press