"Numerous Canadian organizations, including businesses, hospitals and universities, have been held digitally hostage in recent years by criminals who remotely locked their private data and demanded payment to free the files. In some ransomware cases, criminals steal sensitive data and then threaten to make it public unless the ransom is paid. The centre's report, made public Wednesday, says the known number of ransomware incidents increased from 2021 to 2024."
"The centre part of the Communications Security Establishment, Canada's cyberspy agency warns that threat actors engaged in ransomware attacks have started using AI to spot vulnerabilities, develop malware, generate deepfake images and automate negotiations with victims. AI helps criminals overcome technical barriers and a lack of resources, making it easier to target victims and demand payment, often in the form of cryptocurrency, the report says."
Ransomware incidents in Canada increased from 2021 to 2024, and the threat continues to grow and evolve rapidly as malicious actors adopt more sophisticated tactics. Criminals have remotely encrypted private data, stolen sensitive information, and demanded ransom payments, sometimes threatening to publish stolen data. Threat actors are leveraging artificial intelligence to identify vulnerabilities, develop malware, create deepfake images, and automate negotiations, lowering technical barriers and compensating for resource shortfalls. Payments are frequently demanded in cryptocurrency. Basic cybersecurity hygiene—regular software updates, multi-factor authentication, reliable backups, and vigilance against phishing—can mitigate risk, and organizations should employ available defensive tools.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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