The government is failing to strengthen security measures for its computer systems and networks across all departments, exposing critical government infrastructure to cyber attacks by thrill-seeking hackers and terrorists, the Auditor-General warned yesterday. . . .
The government is failing to strengthen security measures for its computer systems and networks across all departments, exposing critical government infrastructure to cyber attacks by thrill-seeking hackers and terrorists, the Auditor-General warned yesterday.

If steps are not taken to fix problems fast, it could undermine the federal government's much-vaunted effort to connect Canadians to the Web and provide credible online government Internet services, Sheila Fraser says.

"Cyber threats are real and can do significant damage," she wrote. "They can impair information assets and disrupt business operations. Some incidents result in lost productivity; others can lead to a loss of consumer confidence, a tarnished reputation and loss of credibility, to outright fraud."

In a special audit tabled in her annual report to Parliament, the Auditor-General paints a picture of a slow-moving bureaucracy in a state of denial about the threats posed by hackers, and inaction on the computer security front.

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