Combatting Cybercrime in 2026: What to Know and Do to Protect Yourself

Although “evil cyber-villain” sounds like something from a 90s movie, cybercrime is something that most adults will face. Fraud, identity theft, and financial crimes are just a few ways that cybercriminals take advantage of people. Hiding behind technology, fraudsters can often go undetected, combing the darkest corners of the web for just enough sensitive information to exploit.

The worst part? The criminals – and the technology that enables them – are only getting better at what they do. In past years, the person behind the screen was just that, a person. Now, with artificial intelligence, chatbots, and other advanced technologies, hackers and cybercriminals are wreaking havoc at unprecedented rates.

Since we can’t change the technology, and we can’t rid the world of criminals, we’re left with one main form of defence: education. In order to protect your family from cyber-risks, you must understand what they are, learn to spot red flags, and be ready to act quickly in a risky situation.

How are Hackers Getting My Info?

You may not consider your name, birthday, phone number, address, and email all that important, but with just a few key pieces of information, hackers can access your accounts, circumvent security measures, and impersonate you. Unfortunately, the threats don’t stop there; credit card numbers, bank account details, and financial data sets are hot commodities for cyber criminals.

But how exactly do hackers get their hands on sensitive information? There are many methods used to extract information from victims, both at a personal level, and at a larger scale, like stealing thousands of customers’ payment details from an online retailer.

Let’s look at a few of the most common tricks hackers use to capture your information:

• Phishing Attacks: If you haven’t been on the receiving end of a phishing attempt, you’re one of the few. Any emails, text messages, or phone calls that ask you to input passwords, personal information, or financial details could be a phishing attempt. Be sure to check the sender’s information before taking action. If you don’t recognize the email address or phone number, don’t comply!
• Data Breaches: Every time you make a purchase online, the company or provider will store your information in their systems. If those systems are then hacked or compromised, you are exposed to a data breach. It’s important to remember that data breaches don’t just happen to large retailers; hospitals, government agencies, and universities can experience breaches, too.
• Social Media: That fun video you made of your holiday break? You may not have noticed, but it had your home address, names of your family members, and other details that could be exploited by hackers. With the rise of video content, bad actors can also use AI to clone your voice and mannerisms, then carry out a deepfake attack.
• Dark Web: Yes, the dark web exists. Yes, scammers can go on the dark web and purchase the personal information of most people in North America. You might think that your social security number, banking information, and home address are private and secure, but chances are, they’re being sold on the black market.

What Can Cybercriminals Do with My Data?

Once your data has been compromised, there’s no telling exactly how it’ll be used. Some hackers are after money, so they’ll target victims by convincing them to send wire transfers to an unknown recipient. Other schemes, such as identity theft, are even more elaborate. Whatever the end result is, it’s not good.

• Identity Theft: With your social security number, name, and birthdate, scammers can steal your identity, using your details to open new lines of credit, purchase homes, and even file fraudulent tax returns.

• Wire Transfers: If your banking information is used to send wire transfers to another account, it’s very difficult to prove that it wasn’t you who initiated the transfer. By the time wire transfer fraud comes to light, it’s often too late to recover the funds. That’s why hackers love it so much!
• Account Takeovers: By gaining access to your social media accounts, online purchasing profiles, and email, hackers can get even more private data, take advantage of payment details linked to your accounts, or use your account to exploit your loved ones.

These are just a few of the most prevalent cyber risks that impact families and businesses all over the world. Even though you might think that you’re “too small” a target for elaborate cyber schemes, it’s important to take precautions and protect your information.

Avoiding Cyber-Traps: Best Practices

Now that we know more about how hackers are accessing data and exploiting it, we can form a robust plan that’ll make avoiding or responding to cyberattacks as simple as possible. Start with these top tips:

1. Monitor your online accounts for unexpected login attempts or unfamiliar activity. Don’t recognize that purchase on your credit card statement? Could be fraud. Not sure when you purchased those items on Amazon? Investigate further.
2. Use strong passwords. Stop using the ‘soccerrocks’ password that you’ve used since third grade. Every online account should have a unique password with a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters.
3. Freeze your credit if you notice suspicious activity. You can use credit reporting companies like Equifax and TransUnion to monitor your credit report. Through those same entities, you can freeze your credit. This will ensure that your current lines of credit remain open and active, while preventing new accounts from being created.
4. Report fraud as soon as possible. Whether it’s identity theft or fraudulent financial transactions, file a report with local law enforcement as soon as you can. They can help you figure out what other entities, such as the Canada Revenue Agency or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, you should connect with.

Stay Safe Out There

Cybercrime isn’t new, but it also isn’t going away anytime soon. If you’re a person with bank accounts, health information, and social media, you’re a prime target for cyber criminals…so, basically, everyone. Because of the prevalence of cybercrimes and the wide-reaching threat they pose, knowing how to protect yourself is vital.

Businesses, families, and government agencies can all fall victim to these terrible schemes. No one is immune from these risks, but with a few key precautions, we can all make the World Wide Web just a little safer. Update your passwords, check your financial statements, and don’t hesitate to file a fraud report if you’re worried – future you will be grateful you did.