Cyber Violence

Cybercrime now a national security threat, Google warns

The Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) is calling on governments to categorize financially motivated cybercrime as a national security threat, highlighting the increasing convergence between cybercriminals and state-sponsored hackers, according to SecurityWeek.

While state-backed cyber operations attract significant attention, financially driven cyberattacks are far more widespread. Mandiant, a Google subsidiary, responded to nearly four times as many financial cybercrime incidents in 2024 compared to nation-state attacks. Countries such as Iran and North Korea are leveraging state-sponsored hacking groups to generate revenue through cybercrimes, while entities like Sandworm—linked to Russian military intelligence—use criminal malware for espionage and disruptive activities.

The Evolution of Cybercrime into Hybrid Warfare

Cybercriminal operations increasingly resemble hybrid warfare tactics, with ransomware attacks crippling critical infrastructure such as healthcare and utility services. In June 2024, the UK’s National Health Service suffered extensive damage from a ransomware attack, while Costa Rica declared a national emergency in 2022 after government services were severely disrupted by cybercriminals.

Google is advocating for a globally coordinated effort to counter cybercrime. Some of the Key recommendations include:

  1. Elevating Cybercrime as a National Security Priority – Governments must treat financially motivated cybercrime with the same urgency as state-sponsored hacking.
  2. Disrupting Cybercriminal Ecosystems – Targeting cybercriminal infrastructure and financial enablers can mitigate global threats.
  3. Strengthening Cybersecurity Defenses – Enhancing national and international cybersecurity frameworks can help prevent attacks.
  4. Enhancing International Cooperation – A collaborative global response is essential to tackling cross-border cybercrime.

GTIG is  urging for a more aggressive crackdown on cybercriminal networks and financial enablers. Addressing the rising tide of cybercrime requires coordinated international action to ensure digital security worldwide.