Organized crime is not limited to cybercrime, but cybercrime has become a major part of organized criminal activity. Europol sees this increasing – business transformation, the increasingly digital society, and the growth of remote working all provide new vulnerabilities and more opportunities for exploitation.

“Critical infrastructures will continue to be targeted by cybercriminals in the coming years, which poses significant risks,” warns the report (PDF). “Developments such as the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT), the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI), applications for biometrics data or the availability of autonomous vehicles will have a significant impact. These innovations will create criminal opportunities.”