Canada investigating computer hacking by U.S. and Israel spies

OTTAWA (Reuters) -- Canadian police are investigating whether U.S. and Israeli spies used rigged computer software to hack into Canada's top secret intelligence files, the Toronto Star newspaper said on Friday.

The paper said the probe revolved around Promis, a software programme first developed to assist prosecutors in the United States Department of Justice which was the centre of a U.S. scandal a decade ago.

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The Star said police were probing whether the software -- used by the Mounties and Canada's spy service to co-ordinate secret investigations -- had been rigged with a so-called "trap door" allowing unauthorised access to sensitive data.

"That could include economic intelligence on trading partners, detailed information on the whereabouts of terrorism suspects in Canada or strategic information on the positions Canada intends to take in international relations," it said.

The Mounties did not return calls seeking comment on the allegations and no one was immediately available at the Israeli or U.S. embassies.

Promis was developed by U.S. company Inslaw Inc., which alleged in the late 1980s that the U.S. government had stolen their software and -- working with Israel -- pedalled pirated versions to intelligence agencies around the world. The case was eventually thrown out of court.

The Toronto Star said the Mounties had interviewed a number of people linked to the Promis affair to see whether there might have been a breach in Canadian national security.

Canada's national counterintelligence agency said in a June report that friendly nations were making concerted efforts to steal sensitive technology and information.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service said outsiders were particularly interested in aerospace, biotechnology, chemicals, communications, information technology, mining and metallurgy, nuclear energy, oil and gas, and the environment.

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