By Canadian Press

Ministers warn COVID-19 researchers anew of threat of foreign actors

Sep 14, 2020 | 12:19 PM

OTTAWA — A trio of federal cabinet minister is warning COVID-19 researchers to take additional precautions to protect their efforts from thieves and vandals.

The statement today says the federal government is concerned about “hostile actors” targeting pandemic-related research in this country and urges government scientists, academics and private-sector workers to double- and triple-check their security measures.

Signed by Industry Minister Navdeep Bains, Health Minister Patty Hajdu and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, the statement recommends strong cyber- and physical-security protocols.

It’s not clear what prompted this new alert, months after Canada’s intelligence agencies first warned of state-sponsored hackers targeting COVID-19 research.

In mid-July, Canadian, British and U.S. security services said they believed hackers working for Russia’s intelligence agency were trying to steal vaccine research.

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The statement today warns of threats to intellectual property and business interests as well as long-term economic competitiveness from espionage and foreign interference.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2020.

The Canadian Press