Hackers target Peel Police daily in Mississauga and Brampton as cyber threats grow

Peel Regional Police face cyber attacks every day as criminals around the world continually attempt to penetrate the service’s computer systems and access sensitive information, a senior officer told the Peel Police Services Board.

Speaking during a discussion about emerging technology and cybercrime, Deputy Chief Anthony Odoardi said protecting police data and technology infrastructure has become one of the service’s most pressing challenges.

“We get cyber attacked at Peel Regional Police every single day,” Odoardi said during the most recent board meeting. “Right now, as we’re sitting here, there is someone — a 13-year-old, 15-year-old, a 25-year-old — somewhere in the world trying to penetrate our systems and access our data.”

Odoardi said the public often focuses on visible police technology such as cameras, mobile devices and other equipment, but much of the cost and effort goes toward protecting those systems from cyber threats.

“What keeps me up at night is the security of our technology and our data,” he said. “We are entrusted by the public to secure that data every moment of every day.”

According to Odoardi, roughly two-thirds of the service’s technology spending is dedicated to cybersecurity measures designed to protect police systems, resident information and privacy.

The comments came after board chair Nando Iannicca reflected on lessons learned at a recent cybersecurity conference in Calgary, where police leaders and technology experts discussed the rapidly evolving tactics criminals are using.

Iannicca said one presentation detailed how a 13-year-old youth in Quebec used the dark web to coordinate a criminal operation involving multiple participants who did not know each other. The case illustrated how technology is allowing criminals to organize and commit offences in increasingly sophisticated ways.

“It was chilling,” Iannicca said. “That is what we are up against.”

The chair said modern policing is increasingly reliant on technology and that police services must continue investing in advanced tools and expertise to keep pace with criminal organizations.

“We’re becoming a technology company in many ways,” Iannicca said.

He also warned that organized crime groups are often well-funded and technologically sophisticated, requiring police services to continually adapt their investigative techniques and cybersecurity defences.

Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said Peel Regional Police is fortunate to have officers recognized internationally for their expertise in cyber investigations, noting that members of the service have been called upon to assist with investigations around the world.

Iannicca said the discussions reinforced the importance of ensuring Peel police have the resources needed to confront emerging cyber threats.

“We’re damn good at catching the bad guys,” he said, “but it takes a lot of resources, and they’re as well resourced, or better than us.”