Cyberattack targeting B.C. government networks led by a state or state-sponsored actor [Video]

British Columbia’s public safety minister says he is confident that a cyberattack targeting government networks was led by a “state or state-sponsored actor.”

In the update delivered Friday, Mike Farnworth said he did not know and could not comment on what country may have been involved.

The “sophisticated” nature of the attack and methods used by the intruders to try and cover their tracks led government and private sector experts to conclude the attackers were state-backed, Farnworth said.

Earlier Friday, the head of B.C.’s Public Service, Shannon Salter, said the initial intrusion was detected on April 10 and confirmed the following day.

B.C. Premier David Eby was briefed about the incident on April 17, while the public service was directed to strengthen their passwords on April 19. Cabinet was not briefed until Wednesday of this week, the same day the cyberattack was publicly revealed.

Farnworth said the information was held back …