A Canadian gas pipeline was the target of a cyberattack carried out by pro-Russia hacking group Zarya, according to leaked U.S. intelligence documents. The hackers claimed the attack could have caused an explosion, with the FSB Russian intelligence agency monitoring Canadian news reports for any signs of such an event.
The documents revealed that Zarya had the capability to increase valve pressure, disable alarms, and make emergency shutdowns at the unspecified gas distribution station in Canada. The attack caused damage and significant financial impact, but no physical damage to Canadian energy infrastructure was recorded.
Canadian authorities have yet to comment on the attack, which was conducted on 25 February. The incident has raised the spectre of pro-Russia groups conducting destructive attacks on critical infrastructure, with the UK’s cabinet secretary Oliver Dowden warning that such groups were attempting to cause maximum damage to national infrastructure.
The leak marks the first time that a pro-Russia hacking group has executed a disruptive attack on Western critical infrastructure.
Pro-Russia groups have previously targeted critical infrastructure in Ukraine, but there have been no known instances of such attacks in Western countries. Experts have warned of the dangers of such attacks on critical infrastructure, with the potential to cause loss of life or significant economic damage.
Hacking groups can use personal information from data leaks to commit fraud, identity theft, and phishing attacks, while seemingly insignificant details can be collated to create a devastating impact.
The alert for further cyberattacks on critical infrastructure has been sounded, and the need for stringent cybersecurity measures has been reiterated.
