GATINEAU — The CRTC today launched a new consultation on its proposed network-level blocking framework to limit botnet traffic and strengthen Canadians’ online safety.
Botnets are harmful networks of malware-infected computers which are under the control of a malicious actor and are known to facilitate some of the most damaging cyber attacks, including ransomware and identity theft. Botnets also enable spam distribution and distributed denial-of-service attacks.
“Malicious botnet attacks are a serious and recurring concern. Almost every week, we see another organization victimized by ransomware or hear of a fellow citizen lured in by a phishing scam. With the launch of this proceeding, we are aiming to better protect Canadian individuals, businesses and institutions against damaging botnet activity,” said CRTC chair and CEO Ian Scott, in a press release.
In its notice of consultation today, the Commission calls for comments on the appropriateness and need for telecom service providers to adopt measures within their networks to block botnet traffic, including what safeguards would be necessary to ensure privacy, transparency and effectiveness.
The Commission says the three most-common network-level blocking techniques which service providers could introduce are domain-based blocking, IP-based blocking and protocol-based blocking.
Interested parties have until March 15 to submit comments. Replies are due by April 14.
