Criminals who withhold data for ransom should use new techniques, namely threats from a target's business partners or customers, in order to: increase their chances of receiving a payment

Cybercrime continues to be the online activity most likely to affect Canadians and their organizations according to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security in its cyber threat forecasts for 2023-2024. According to the report, ransomware attacks are certainly the most disruptive form of cybercrime that Canadians face. In the report, digital files are being held hostage or encrypted until fees are paid.

The cybercriminals most likely expect these organizations to work with the victim to pay the ransom, according to the center. It threatens a victim's business partners or customers. Also, the report indicated that state-sponsored programs in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are the biggest strategic cyber threats to Canada.

The report also indicates that “Critical infrastructures are increasingly at risk of being targeted by cyber threat activities from cybercriminals and threat actors sponsored by States, while nation-states adapt their use of misinformation, misinformation and misinformation.