Ransomware Attacks Expected to Remain Major Threat to Canada: Cyber Centre

Ransomware attacks are expected to remain a significant and evolving threat to Canada through at least 2027, according to a new assessment released by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.

The Cyber Centre, which is part of the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE), published its Ransomware Threat Outlook 2025 to 2027, outlining current and emerging cybercrime trends facing Canadian organizations and individuals.

The report describes the modern ransomware environment as a highly sophisticated and interconnected ecosystem that continues to evolve rapidly.

Threat actors are increasingly opportunistic and financially motivated, placing organizations of all sizes and sectors at risk.

According to the Cyber Centre, ransomware groups are adopting new technologies, including artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, while developing more advanced extortion tactics to increase profits. The use of AI has made attacks cheaper and faster to carry out and more difficult to detect.

The outlook also reviews the early history of ransomware, examines its growing impact on Canada, and challenges common myths and misconceptions surrounding cybercrime.

Measures such as keeping software up to date, using multi-factor authentication and remaining cautious of phishing attempts can significantly reduce risk and improve cyber readiness.