CIRA Expands Canadian Shield to Windows and macOS

OTTAWA, Ontario, Sept. 16, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- CIRA, the national not-for-profit organization responsible for managing Canada's .CA domain, has expanded its free cybersecurity service, Canadian Shield, to include protection for Windows and macOS devices. This move aims to provide Canadians with a more comprehensive and portable security solution, ensuring that users are protected wherever they connect to the internet.

Canadian Shield, which was initially available for iOS and Android devices, now offers protection for laptops and desktop computers. The service operates by blocking connections to known malicious domains before they can reach the device, thereby preventing phishing, malware, and other online threats. Unlike protection configured through a home router, the Canadian Shield app travels with the device, offering protection whether users are at home, in a coffee shop, on campus, or while traveling.

The expansion of Canadian Shield to Windows and macOS devices is part of CIRA's commitment to enhancing digital sovereignty and user privacy. By keeping data within Canada and out of the hands of advertisers, the service aligns with CIRA's mission to build a trusted internet for Canadians. Jon Ferguson, Vice President of Cybersecurity & DNS at CIRA, stated, "Good cybersecurity should be easy to access and use, no matter where Canadians connect to the internet. With Canadian Shield now available on Windows and macOS, protection travels with your computer instead of stopping at your home network."

The new version of Canadian Shield includes several features designed to make it easier for users to understand, manage, and stay protected. These features include:

- 30-day protection statistics: Summarizes requests scanned and domains blocked, including which URLs were blocked, how often, and the threat category. - Domain lookup: Allows users to check if a domain is considered malicious before visiting it. - Submit for Review: Lets users flag domains they believe were incorrectly blocked. - Protection notifications: Alerts users when changes to protection status need attention.

CIRA's Canadian Shield is powered by Net Good by CIRA, a program that invests in making Canada's internet better, safer, and stronger. The solution is available in two protection modes: Protected and Family. The Protected mode blocks known malware, phishing, and botnet domains to help stop online threats from reaching devices. The Family mode includes all the protections of the Protected mode while also blocking access to adult content.

Canadian Shield has been effective in blocking more than 300 million malicious domain requests on average each month. The platform works on home routers, phones, tablets, and computers, preventing known threats from reaching users' devices. With the new features and expanded device support, Canadians now have a simple, free way to add another layer of protection using the same technology CIRA relies on to secure millions of commercial customers and safeguard Canada's .CA registry 24/7.