Coronavirus as a Double-Edged Sword for Cybercriminals: Desperation or Opportunity?

Digital Shadows (now ReliaQuest) observed that the COVID-19 pandemic is prompting shifts in the cybercriminal underground: increased online shopping and remote work create opportunities for carding and fraud, actors are discussing and preparing to spread malware via fake sites and malicious ads, darknet vendors are adapting product offerings and pricing, and cash-out/delivery services are disrupted by lockdowns—producing both opportunistic exploitation and vendor desperation. The report compiles forum posts and marketplace listings to illustrate these trends but does not provide technical indicators or evidence of a specific active campaign.