The Canadian government is warning of Russian-backed cyberattacks on Canadian critical infrastructure, amid growing tensions between Western countries and Moscow over concerns of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) said in a bulletin issued on Jan. 20 that it has become aware of Russian-backed cyber threat activities targeting Canadian critical infrastructure network operators, including their operational and information technology. The Cyber Centre is encouraging the Canadian cybersecurity community, and especially critical infrastructure network defenders, “to bolster their awareness of and protection against Russian state-sponsored cyber threats.” It also said critical infrastructure network operators need to be prepared “to isolate critical infrastructure components.” The warning came as Melanie Joly, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, was concluding a European tour that included a stop in Ukraine. Russia has positioned about 100,000 troops across Ukraine’s borders along with tanks and other heavy artillery, stoking fears across Europe of an invasion. Joly said Moscow would …