We probably all throw around the word cybersecurity without thinking much about what it actually is and how it works. We are all aware that we need to watch out for cybercriminals. It is not surprising, given the growth in criminal activity in this area. About 4% of all crime reported in Canada in 2024 had a cyber component.
However, only the reported crime is on the rise. The Canadian Internet Use Survey revealed that 70% of Canadians had experienced a cybersecurity incident. However, attacks on businesses appear to have declined. About 16% were impacted by cybersecurity incidents in 2023. That was down from 21% in 2019.
The leading types of business incidents involved attempts to steal money or to demand a ransom. These were followed by criminals trying to steal personal or financial data.
Catch-all Phrase to Protect the Digital World
Cybersecurity refers to all the activities that protect computers, networks, and data from digital attacks. It relies on prevention, detection, and response, deploying multiple layers of defense including passwords, 2FA, firewalls, and encryption.
The aim is to keep the bad actors out. The problem is that it is a relentless, continuous battle because every time a new protocol launches, hackers get to work finding the weakness. Digital businesses with connected consumers always have to stay several steps ahead.
Where Money is Involved, the Risks are High
The online gambling sector probably remains more directly affected by potential cybercrime incidents than any other digital industry. You could argue that banks and payment platforms remain more exposed. But, as these services feed into online gambling platforms, this digital entertainment space is one where everything comes together.
The sites need to protect themselves and their customers. Without adequate cybersecurity, an online casino could be vulnerable to attacks by criminals who not only seek to steal customers’ money and personal details but also to interfere with games and betting systems to empty the casino’s coffers.
Heist Prevention
There are plenty of popular movies about physical casino heists. That’s because they hold massive cash reserves and handle enormous sums of money. There are strong rooms and literal bank-style vaults within the buildings, and the security is of the highest level.
Now hold that image in your head and think how much more vulnerable a digital platform could be with hundreds of thousands of customers and tens of payment options. That is before you consider the vast number of games that all need to be secured.
Canadian online casinos operate across 10 provinces and, regardless of how people connect, cybersecurity has to be a top priority for any reputable operation. In fact, online review company Casino.org rates security as the most important factor when ranking and rating online casinos in Canada. If the correct security protocols are not in place, they advise players to give the site a wide berth. Not taking security seriously is a major red flag and will land an operator on their ‘casinos to avoid’ list.
Size Does Not Matter
Wherever consumers create an account online, whether or not they include payment details, they leave a trail that a cybercriminal might use to get their hands on it. A third of businesses reported that cyberattacks will be the leading risk to their data resilience over the next twelve months.
It seems that size and systems are not always enough. Canada had to pull its financial intelligence system FINTRAC offline after a ‘cyber incident’ in March 2024, an attack hit the House of Commons in Ottawa in August 2025, and at the start of August 2026, the municipality of Saint-Noell was the victim of an attack on its drinking water facility.
The Rise and Risks of AI
We might hope that artificial intelligence (AI) will be a great tool in the battle against malicious attacks and phishing. Unfortunately, generative AI also works for attackers, enabling them to rapidly generate credible phishing campaigns.
The correct prompt can also manipulate AI systems to leak data, and tools can accelerate vulnerability and exploitation. In addition, deepfake vishing and AI social engineering are becoming more common. Connected consumers can no longer simply ‘believe their eyes’ as so much is faked.
While cybersecurity is key to staying safe online, so too is common sense. If something feels even slightly off, do not click on it and ‘walk’ away.
