Moscow helping cybercriminals operate with 'near impunity': Canadian Cyber Centre

Russian intelligence services and police will help cybercriminals operate with 'near impunity' against their targets -- including Canadians -- in coming months, a new federal report predicts.

Russian intelligence services and police will help cybercriminals operate with "near impunity" against their targets -- including Canadians -- in coming months, a new federal report predicts.

The assessment released Monday says Russia, and to a lesser extent Iran, very likely act as cybercrime safe havens from which digital criminals within their borders can operate against western targets.

Crime in the online realm in Canada is expected to increase over the next two years as the activities of organized groups pose a threat to national security and economic prosperity, says the latest cybercrime forecast by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.

"So long as cybercriminals can extract financial profit from Canadian victims, they will almost certainly continue to mount campaigns against Canadian organizations and individuals."

The report, compiled with support from the RCMP, says ransomware -- malware that holds vital digital information hostage for payment -- is likely the most disruptive form of cybercrime facing Canada because it is pervasive and can have a serious effect on an organization's ability to function.

Officials believe cybercriminals bent on making money will almost certainly continue to target high-value organizations in critical infrastructure sectors in Canada and around the world over the next two years.

The report says organized cybercriminal groups can reap large sums through their specialized technical capabilities, including development of tailored malware.