Ottawa investigates cyberattack amid tensions

Federal cybersecurity agencies confirmed Monday a recent cyberattack against Global Affairs Canada amid escalating tensions over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The federal government is not saying who it suspects was behind the Jan. 19 attack, which has left some diplomats without access to some online services almost a week later.

But the attack came one day before the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security urged companies to bolster protections against the potential for Russian-backed attacks.

The Treasury Board, which confirmed the incident, said “mitigation actions were taken” afterwards, but it offered no additional details.

“Cyberthreats can result from system or application vulnerabilities, or from deliberate, persistent, targeted attacks by outside actors to gain access to information.”

Moscow is currently in a military standoff with Canada and its NATO allies over Russia’s military build up on the border with Ukraine, which was also the target of a massive cyberattack on Jan. 16.

Ukrainian officials have blamed Russia for the attack, which Moscow has denied.

Russia has positioned about 100,000 troops across Ukraine’s borders along with tanks and other heavy artillery, stoking fears across Europe of an invasion, something Russia has denied.

Tensions escalated on Monday as the U.S. placed 8,500 troops on heightened alert in Europe.

NATO, meanwhile, in an attempt to show heightened solidarity also announced a series of what it called “enhanced deterrence and defence” deployments of ships, fighter jets and troops.

Denmark was a sending a frigate to the Baltic Sea and four F-16 fighter jets to Lithuania. Spain was sending ships, and was considering sending fighter jets to Bulgaria. France said it was prepared to send troops to Romania under NATO command. The Netherlands planned to send a pair of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Bulgaria. The U.S. said it was considering increasing its military presence in eastern Europe.

On Monday evening, Global Affairs Canada added stronger language to its advisory warning Canadians against non-essential travel to Ukraine, which has been in effect since last week.

The advisory now suggests Canadians who are in Ukraine consider leaving.