Crisis as a Catalyst: Cyber Threat Opportunism in action

In a hyperconnected world, every global crisis or tragedy becomes an opportunity—not just for headlines, but for hackers. Cybercriminals are quick to seize on public emotion, uncertainty, and curiosity to deploy scams, phishing attacks, and malware campaigns. From the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to the recent death of Pope Francis, we’re seeing a disturbing pattern emerge: when the world holds its breath, cyber threats move in.

1. Chaos, Curiosity, and Clickbait

As Check Point recently reported, scammers have been exploiting the death of Pope Francis, flooding platforms like TikTok and Instagram with fake news stories, AI-generated images, and fraudulent links. One scam posed as a Google gift card giveaway, while another spread misinformation claiming the Pope's death was a hoax—designed to amplify clicks and shares. As Rafa Lopez from Check Point put it, “Cybercriminals thrive on chaos and curiosity.”

2. COVID-19: A Case Study in Cyber Opportunism

This isn't a new tactic. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) detected over 18 million malware and phishing Gmail messages per day, leveraging themes like remote work, fake health alerts, and phony charity solicitations. Even nation-state actors joined the fray, with groups like Charming Kitten and Packrat targeting government officials and health workers using pandemic-themed lures.

3. Public Emotion as a Vector

Whether it’s fear during a global health emergency or grief and intrigue following the death of a world leader, hackers know when emotions run high, people are more likely to click. These campaigns are rarely random. They're engineered to exploit trust, urgency, and the viral nature of social media.

4. What We Can Learn—and Do

Understanding cyber threat opportunism is the first step to defending against it. Organizations must stay alert during major news events, as that’s when their users are most vulnerable.

For individuals, skepticism is key: verify sources, avoid clicking suspicious links, and rely on trusted news outlets.

From global pandemics to the passing of major figures, the internet is increasingly weaponized in times of crisis. Cybercriminals aren't just opportunistic—they're fast, creative, and increasingly sophisticated. Staying ahead means anticipating their moves, especially when the world is distracted.

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References:

https://www.politico.eu/article/hackers-pounce-on-popes-death-with-scams/

https://blog.google/threat-analysis-group/findings-covid-19-and-online-security-threats/