Canada is an “Attractive Target” for New Cyber Attack Techniques, Security Expert Testifies

Canada is an attractive target for malicious cyber operations and is often one of the first countries criminals and hostile nations target with new methods, cybersecurity expert and former CIA analyst Christopher Porter told Canada’s House of Commons committee Wednesday. Porter is the chief intelligence strategist at FireEye and was an analyst at the CIA for nine years, where he was tasked with briefing President Barack Obama’s National Security Council on cybersecurity. He also stressed to the committee that it shouldn’t focus too narrowly on “critical infrastructure.” “If you make a list of critical industry you’re going to defend, then that means you’re leaving other industry and everyday citizens vulnerable,” said Porter. “It would be important to acknowledge in principle that defending all Canadians and businesses is a priority for the government, as opposed to picking a few winners and losers in critical industries,” he added. Read the article at the Montreal Gazette.