Intelligence

U.S. agencies fall short on cybersecurity

The Government Accountability Officer has put out no fewer than 38 recommendations on how federal agencies can improve their cybersecurity risk management. All but one of the 23 agencies reviewed had already designated an executive responsible for security but none evidently had a risk management strategy in place and there was a general lack of coordination between cybersecurity in particular and agency-wide management functions in general. [node:read-more:link]

Security concerns still in the shadows

Debate over access to encrypted cell phone messages raises fundamental security and privacy issues. Why is this not a bigger issue in Canada? For one thing, it’s a political loser. [node:read-more:link]

Ex-KGB agent leaves Canada after hiding for six years

A former KGB agent who spent six years hiding in a Vancouver church to avoid deportation to Russia has left Canada after surrendering to immigration enforcement authorities, his lawyer said Sunday. [node:read-more:link]

Security: working with the Trump Administration

If Canada is successful in working with the new Trump administration to achieve mutual security objectives, that could well have positive influence on how economic issues unfold, including cross-border trade. [node:read-more:link]

Comments from the PM's Security Advisor

Richard Fadden, who announced his retirement last week after nearly 40 years of public service, told CBC Radio's As It Happens that while ISIS does not pose an "existential" threat to Canada, it is accomplishing its prime objective of breeding terror. [node:read-more:link]

Free Trade with China ignores security concerns

Although supported by a large number of Canadians, the Liberal government’s pursuit of a free trade agreement with China ignores real security and defence vulnerabilities posed by such a relationship. [node:read-more:link]

U.S. shuts down its cyber policy office

While the Government Accountability Office notes that the DOD faces “new challenges as adversaries try to steal national security information and technology at unprecedented rate, ” the White House eliminated its Senior Cyber Policy Office. [node:read-more:link]

CSE Chief testifies before HoC Standing Committee

Communications Security Establishment Chief, Greta Bossenmaier, testifies before the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence. [node:read-more:link]

Improperly documented visitors barred entry

Canadian border agents are turning away improperly-documented visitors to Canada in record numbers thanks to new guidelines that help intercept foreign nationals whom they have reason to believe will remain on a permanent basis or intend to work or study in Canada without proper visas. [node:read-more:link]

UK's MI6 releases new recruitment video

Britain's MI6 has launched a new recruitment drive on Google and YouTube so as not to miss out on potential employees that might switch channels from a TV advertisement. The new advertisement, launched yesterday, says being a spy is 'not about finding the button for the ejector seat'. [node:read-more:link]

Parliament to study foreign meddling, defence intel

Over the next year, the top-secret National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians plans to probe the threat foreign interference poses to Canada, and examine how the military collects and uses information about Canadians. [node:read-more:link]

NDP asking for probe into RCMP spying allegations

The NDP is trying to prod the federal government into launching an investigation into whether the RCMP used invasive – and possibly illegal – techniques to eavesdrop on one of their own during a harassment lawsuit. [node:read-more:link]

National Security and Intelligence report

The NSICP annual report, which had been delivered to the PM in December 2018, has now been released to the public. It covers topics of intelligence priorities, defence intelligence activities, legal authorities, plus oversight and accountability. Numerous federal departments and agencies were involved: CBSA; CSIS; CSE; Justice; DND and the Canadian Armed Forces; FINTRAC; GAC; IRCC; Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre; PCO; Public Safety; RCMP; and Transport Canada. [node:read-more:link]

Britain and U.S. intelligence relations strained

Security and intelligence-sharing between Britain and the United States are often cited as the key to their “special relationship” but are they increasingly at odds? Is the recent U.S. move to establish a naval taskforce to patrol flashpoints in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea sucking Britain more deeply into President Donald Trump’s confrontation with Iran? [node:read-more:link]

CSIS dealing with more right-wing extremism

The head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service says his agency is "more and more preoccupied" with the threat of violent right-wing extremism and white supremacists. [node:read-more:link]

Pages