Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Canada’s cybersecurity issues and how to address them in your personal life
February 20, 2026
Image: Freepik/DC Studio
Along with the rest of the world, Canada's citizens are facing new cybersecurity threats. This can make it hard to feel confident online. The real-world result can lead to financial loss, sensitive data being available to all, and a wider impact on the economy.
Here are some of the issues you could encounter, as well as measures to protect yourself.
AI-powered phishing and deepfakes
One of the newest types of issues is AI-powered scams, or deepfakes. Criminals use AI to create personalized social engineering attacks. This could be in the form of fake videos of celebrities "talking" to you or as a romance scam.
Always verify the person you are speaking to independently, especially if they ask for money or passwords. Remember, celebrities will never do this, so it is an immediate red flag.
See: Canada Launches First National Anti-Fraud Strategy
Check any videos carefully. If you watch, you will be able to spot weird movements that break the AI illusion, such as words not matching with mouth movements.
Data broker scams
Malicious websites are selling compromised credentials such as passwords, user logins and personal information, which can lead to account takeovers.
Avoid your accounts being at risk by manually requesting removal from major broker sites. There are legitimate companies you can pay to do this, as it is time-consuming.
Try to practise good online hygiene. Make sure you have strong passwords that you change regularly. Do not open strange emails, as they could be links to harvest your data. Importantly, if you do think someone has information they shouldn’t, report it to the relevant body in Canada.
Supply chain vulnerabilities
As a small to medium-sized business owner, your company is important to your personal life. You may notice that your business is targeted by scammers to gain access to secure networks. This puts any personal data in your care at risk.
Implement rigorous vendor risk management, as well as mapping the supply chain for any vulnerabilities. Make it part of your policy to conduct regular manual checks as well as employ software to monitor your network continuously.
Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS)
Ransomware remains the top cybersecurity threat. It works by infiltrating your systems and network, rendering your data inaccessible. This enables fewer technical criminals to launch attacks against both individuals and businesses.
Make sure you have system backups offline and regularly check for and apply security patches to all systems. Consider using a VPN free to encrypt your data, making it harder for criminals to access and read.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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