Organized cybercrime is poised to become a potential threat to Canada’s national security and economic progress in the next two years, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) said on Monday.
"We assess that organized cybercrime will very likely pose a threat to Canada’s national security and economic prosperity over the next two years. Organized cybercriminal groups can impose significant financial costs on their victims. These groups often have planning and support functions in addition to specialized technical capabilities, such as bespoke malware development," the CCCS assessment reads.
Moreover, it was assessed that over the next two years, "high value" organizations participating in the critical infrastructure sector nationally and internationally will continue to be targeted by financially motivated cybercriminals.
In addition, according to CCCS’s assessment, Russia and to a lesser extent Iran, are acting as "safe heavens" for cybercriminals, from where they can launch their cyberattacks on western targets.
CCCS further assessed that Russian intelligence services and law enforcement agencies “almost certainly” maintain some sort of relationship with cybercriminals, allowing them to operate without consequences.
"They do so as long as cybercriminals focus their attacks against targets outside of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)," the assessment added.
Earlier today, the CCCS released its Baseline cyber threat assessment: cybercrime, in which jointly with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) they highlight key judgments on cybersecurity.
The cybersecurity agency said the sources employed in the assessment were of classified and unclassified nature, further noting that the goal of presenting the analysis was to inform professionals in the field of cybersecurity, and the overall threat that cybercrimes pose to Canada and Canadians.