Cyber security breach at Rideau Hall confirmed by governor general
Posted December 2, 2021 12:09 pm.
Last Updated December 2, 2021 1:14 pm.
The Office of the Secretary to the governor general says there was unauthorized access to the internal network at Rideau Hall.
It’s unclear if any sensitive information was compromised. The office says the nature and the scope of the breach is still under investigation.
Stephanie Karvan, a former national security analyst who now teaches at Carleton University. She explains this could have happened just by clicking on the wrong email attachment can lead to a cyber breach.
“And a determined hacker probably has the advantage in any given situation. There’s only so much you can do with your defences.”
There was a network breach at Rideau Hall. Nature and scope of the breach are still under investigation #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/DFyIn0pylJ
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) December 2, 2021
Rideau Hall is home to the Canadian monarch and their representative, including the governor-general of Canada. And Karvan points out the governor general is not only the Queen’s representative, but the office would have access to classified information.
“Mary May Simon, the governor general, is the head of the Canadian Armed Forces, and she is probably regularly briefed on some fairly sensitive files.”
Given the target, Karvan, believes another country may be responsible.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all … if it’s one of the usual suspects China, Russia, Iran and North Korea,” she suggests.
The Canadian Center for cybersecurity is investigating the breach and working with the Governor General’s office to strengthen the network.
