Europol
"The COVID-19 crisis [has] illustrated how criminals actively take advantage of society at its most vulnerable. Criminals tweaked existing forms of cybercrime to fit the pandemic narrative, abused the uncertainty of the situation and the public’s need for reliable information." That's Europol's take in its latest Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment. Despite multiple successes in closing down dark web marketplaces, they remain a "growing threat," the report says. It also points to an increase in 'SIM swapping' and warns of the potentially devastating consequences for victims. Rather than new threats, Europol says the past year has seen existing methods being refined. Criminals, it adds, remain successful because of "inadequate cyber hygiene" and a lack of knowledge and awareness among victims.