Understanding Opportunistic Cybercrime ~ Logon2Tech

1. What is meant by an “opportunistic” crime?

Opportunistic crime refers to a category of criminal activities that are committed by individuals who exploit unforeseen opportunities that arise unexpectedly. Rather than meticulously planning a crime in advance, opportunistic offenders take advantage of situations or vulnerabilities as they arise. These crimes often involve minimal planning and can include a variety of offenses such as pickpocketing, fraud, home burglaries, identity theft, or even blackmail. The key characteristic of opportunistic crime is the criminal’s ability to seize chances as they emerge, often without prior intention. Factors like the perceived ease of execution, low risk of detection, and available rewards play a significant role in motivating the offender.

In the context of cybercrime, the same principle applies. Opportunistic cybercriminals often take advantage of weak security measures, lapses in vigilance, or human error to carry out their activities. These criminals typically exploit vulnerabilities that present themselves through phishing attacks, malware infections, or social engineering tactics, rather than conducting a long-term, methodical attack.

2. Example of Opportunistic Cybercrime

A prevalent example of opportunistic cybercrime today involves the increasing number of international students migrating to countries like Canada for education. These students, often unfamiliar with local systems, are vulnerable to various scams, especially when seeking part-time jobs. Cybercriminals capitalize on this opportunity by masquerading as legitimate employers and offering fake job positions.

The attackers typically lure the students with the promise of high-paying, flexible work hours and ask for sensitive personal information, such as Social Insurance Numbers (SIN), passport details, and banking information, under the guise of verifying their identity or processing their employment. This type of crime is a form of identity theft—an opportunistic cybercrime where the criminal seizes an opening to exploit the victim’s personal data for financial gain. As these scams become more sophisticated, victims may suffer not only from financial loss but also long-term consequences like identity theft and credit damage.

This trend has been exacerbated by the growing reliance on digital communication and the shift to online recruitment platforms, which provides cybercriminals with easier access to unsuspecting individuals. Both international students and local residents have been affected by this type of opportunistic cybercrime, often resulting in significant financial and emotional distress.

3. Verizon Data Breach Incident Report: Cybercrime Statistics and Opportunistic Trends

According to the Verizon 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), a significant percentage of cybercrimes are opportunistic in nature. The report reveals that 28% of all cyberattacks in 2019 were ransomware-based attacks, which are often opportunistic in nature. These attacks typically exploit vulnerabilities in a system, often targeting businesses or individuals with poor cybersecurity practices. The criminals behind these attacks capitalize on unpatched software, weak passwords, or human error to gain access to sensitive data and demand a ransom for its release.

Moreover, the report highlighted that 87% of incidents in the same year involved Command and Control (C2) malware, which is used by attackers to remotely control compromised devices. This type of malware is often delivered through phishing or social engineering tactics—again, taking advantage of vulnerabilities in human behavior or weak technical defenses.

The data confirms that the majority of cybercrime activities are opportunistic, with criminals relying on readily available tools, existing vulnerabilities, and human error to execute their attacks. The report's findings underscore the importance of being vigilant against such threats and implementing robust cybersecurity practices to mitigate the risks associated with opportunistic cybercrime.

4. Why Opportunistic Cybercrime is on the Rise

There are several factors contributing to the rise of opportunistic cybercrime:

Increased Digital Dependency: As more individuals and businesses transition online for everyday activities, from shopping to banking, the number of potential entry points for cybercriminals has exponentially grown. This expansion has given rise to a variety of opportunistic crimes, such as phishing, online scams, and identity theft.
Weak Security Measures: Many individuals and organizations still fail to adopt basic cybersecurity practices, such as using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and keeping software updated. These lapses provide criminals with easy opportunities to exploit weaknesses.
Lack of Awareness: The public's general lack of awareness about cybersecurity risks makes them more susceptible to falling for common scams. Cybercriminals are quick to exploit human error, using tactics like social engineering to trick victims into divulging personal information.
Global Connectivity: The anonymity provided by the internet and the ability to reach targets worldwide makes it easier for opportunistic cybercriminals to operate with minimal risk of detection or punishment. They can easily target individuals across borders, knowing that victims may be geographically distant and law enforcement may have difficulty tracking them down.

Conclusion

Opportunistic cybercrime represents a growing threat in our increasingly interconnected world. As individuals and organizations become more dependent on digital tools and platforms, the opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities also increase. Whether it's through phishing attacks, ransomware, or social engineering, these criminals often take advantage of the ease with which they can infiltrate systems and gather sensitive information.

Understanding the nature of opportunistic cybercrime is crucial for developing effective strategies to prevent it. Awareness, better security practices, and vigilance in the digital space are key to reducing the risks posed by opportunistic attackers.