Canada confirmed that there were two attempts by hackers to target Canadian firms.
Reports suggested the attacks came from China, but the Canadian government has declined to comment on such suggestions.
The attacks come at a sensitive time as Canada's Conservative government decides on whether to approve the $15.1 billion takeover bid of Canadian oil producer Nexen by China's CNOOC.
Dell, who tracks hackers around the world, says the first attack, on an unnamed Canadian energy company, came from a Chinese service provider in Beijing. The second attack was at a domestic manufacturer of software, Telvent Canada.
Telvent let customers know security had been breached, and blamed Chinese hackers.
As usual, Beijing denied any involvement.
The attacks come at a sensitive time as Canada's Conservative government decides on whether to approve the $15.1 billion takeover bid of Canadian oil producer Nexen by China's CNOOC.
Dell, who tracks hackers around the world, says the first attack, on an unnamed Canadian energy company, came from a Chinese service provider in Beijing. The second attack was at a domestic manufacturer of software, Telvent Canada.
Telvent let customers know security had been breached, and blamed Chinese hackers.
As usual, Beijing denied any involvement.
