"Go ahead make my day! Do you feel lucky punk - keep playing electronic Prime Minister!"
PMO Calls In Spooks To Find Pranksters Who Sent E-mails In Harper's Name
OTTAWA — The Prime Minister's Office has asked Canada's secretive electronic counter-espionage police to investigate how someone might have gained access to a government Internet service to send out spoof e-mails in Stephen Harper's name.
The RCMP and the Communications Security Establishment have been asked to track down the source of at least two prank emails issued Sunday to scores of people signed onto the prime minister's e-mail service.
The CSE has the dual role of electronic eavesdropping and protection of federal computer systems.
One of the messages suggests Harper's recognition of Kosovo's independence could lead to Quebec sovereignty.
The other begins with the greeting, "Hi The Average Canadian, Stephen Harper wanted to tell you" that he intends to destroy health care, make Canada the 51st U.S. state, is beholden to the Alberta tar sands, and dislikes all things green except for the almighty American dollar.
The notes were sent to an e-mail address that automatically distributes messages to people who have signed onto the PMO listserv mailing list.
The jokesters would not necessarily have needed to hack into government computers to perform their stunt; all they would have required was the listserv's e-mail address.
Members of the public are able to join the mailing list by visiting the prime minister's website at www.pm.gc.ca.
A spokesman for Harper said the Privy Council Office, the bureaucratic wing of the PMO, contacted the RCMP and the CSE.
The RCMP and the Communications Security Establishment have been asked to track down the source of at least two prank emails issued Sunday to scores of people signed onto the prime minister's e-mail service.
The CSE has the dual role of electronic eavesdropping and protection of federal computer systems.
One of the messages suggests Harper's recognition of Kosovo's independence could lead to Quebec sovereignty.
The other begins with the greeting, "Hi The Average Canadian, Stephen Harper wanted to tell you" that he intends to destroy health care, make Canada the 51st U.S. state, is beholden to the Alberta tar sands, and dislikes all things green except for the almighty American dollar.
The notes were sent to an e-mail address that automatically distributes messages to people who have signed onto the PMO listserv mailing list.
The jokesters would not necessarily have needed to hack into government computers to perform their stunt; all they would have required was the listserv's e-mail address.
Members of the public are able to join the mailing list by visiting the prime minister's website at www.pm.gc.ca.
A spokesman for Harper said the Privy Council Office, the bureaucratic wing of the PMO, contacted the RCMP and the CSE.
posted by Clare L. Pieuk at 6:37 AM
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