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Hackers target Canadian energy, software firms

Updated at 10:51 am on 30 September 2012

The Canadian government has acknowledged cyber attacks on two Canadian firms but has declined to comment on reports which suggested a Chinese connection.

The government said on Friday it was aware of an attempt by hackers to target a domestic energy company.

Computer manufacturer Dell Inc said it had tracked the hackers and they had used a Chinese service provider based in Beijing Province. It did not name the energy firm.

A spokesman for Canada's public safety ministry said the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre is aware of this incident but declined to comment further.

Less than 24 hours earlier Duval said Canada knew hackers had breached security at a domestic manufacturer of software used by big energy companies.

Calgary-based Telvent Canada Ltd warned customers about the attack, which hit operations in the US, Canada and Spain, the cyber security news site KrebsOnSecurity.com reported on Wednesday. It cited experts who said digital fingerprints left during the attack pointed to Chinese hackers.

China is often cited as a suspect in various hacking attacks on companies in the United States and other nations. Beijing dismisses allegations it is involved.

Canada's Conservative government is deciding whether to approve a landmark $US15.1 billion bid by China's CNOOC Ltd to take over Canadian oil producer Nexen Inc.

Some Conservative legislators are wary of the proposed CNOOC takeover, in part because of what they say are China's unfair business practices.

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