Canada’s spy service received judge’s OK to target malware-infected devices

OTTAWA — Canada’s spy service obtained a judge’s permission to disrupt cyberthreats from foreign adversaries who infected digital devices with malware.

A Federal Court ruling made public this week says the Canadian Security Intelligence Service requested a warrant to “remove the compromised devices from Canada” to shield sensitive systems from attack.

The ruling provides a glimpse into CSIS’s efforts to neutralize the threat posed by infected servers, home office routers and everyday devices connected to the internet, such as TVs, security cameras and doorbells.

The malware causes these digital items to operate as network of infected devices, known as a botnet.