OTTAWA, Ontario, May 19, 2014 – Today, the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, commended the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and their partners including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Eurojust, for their efforts in dismantling a major international criminal operation targeting computer hackers who used a malicious software (malware) to create botnets. Members of the RCMP’s ‘C’ Division Integrated Technological Crime Units (ITCU) successfully assisted in dismantling the network after a large-scale, coordinated takedown took place in 15 countries last May 13 and 14, with more than 300 house searches carried out and 81 arrests.
“I applaud the outstanding work of all those involved in this important operation, and for preventing further harm from the proliferation of such cybercrime networks. Cybercrime poses a very real and serious risk to our critical infrastructure and Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Stopping these cyber criminals benefits all Canadians. We support our police forces and international partners who work tirelessly to ensure our communities are safe places to live, work and raise our families.”
For more information on this operation, please visit the RCMP “C” division website (http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/qc/nouv-news/com-rel/2014/05/140519-eng.htm).
For additional information on how to stay safe online please visit: www.getcybersafe.gc.ca
Follow Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) and Get Cyber Safe (@GetCyberSafe) on Twitter.
For further information:
Jason Tamming
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-991-2924
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657