Canadian Underwriter

A bearded young man studying a computer screen displaying images of the earth with moving graphics. He’s surrounded by out of focus, colourful displays and reflections showing moving global graphics that are out of focus.
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Hacker U, leaked nudes and AI: predicting 2024 cyber threats

December 5, 2023 by David Gambrill

Hacking courses for amateurs, leaked nudes and AI-supported scams are popular cyber threats identified in dark web forums, a cybersecurity firm has warned. NordVPN is a global virtual private network (VPN) service provider founded in 2012. It establishes secure digital

Ransom note to convey increase of cybercrime using ransomware
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What’s driving rising ransomware attacks

October 30, 2023 Philip Porado

Ransomware attacks are increasing globally thanks to evolving cybercrime tactics that make it easier for thieves to transfer data from computers or other devices. “Cyber claims frequency has picked up again this year as ransomware groups continue to evolve their

Low angle of a black wrought iron kettle pot that has been knocked over spilling it's gold coins onto the grass, with sun flare and rainbow. Mythology says it is the secret hiding place of an Irish Leprechaun's pot of gold, some even say he is tricky.
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How brokers can cash in on a $900-billion cyber opportunity

October 12, 2023 by David Gambrill

With the Global Federation of Insurance Associations (GFIA) citing a $900-billion cyber insurance protection gap, Canadian brokers are seeing a huge growth opportunity in cyber, with some predicting cyber insureds will ultimately overtake the proportion of those covered by property

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Which coverages will lead brokers out of the hard market?

September 5, 2023 David Gambrill

For several years, Canadian P&C insurance brokers climbed through a hard market in virtually all commercial specialty lines. Now, industry analysts have told Canadian Underwriter, that climb has plateaued in both the cyber and directors and officers (D&O) lines. “Now

A price drop may be on the way for D&O and cyber insurance coverages
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Ratings reports see pricing declines for two P&C coverages

June 15, 2023 Philip Porado

New market entrants over the past year have helped ease price increases for two key property and casualty (P&C) insurance coverage segments in the U.S., according to a pair of recent reports from Fitch Ratings. Changes in the competitive landscape

Cybercrime is on the rise in Canada and companies can no longer ignore cyber insurance
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Don’t let clients cheap out on cyber coverage

May 10, 2023 Philip Porado

As high-profile ransomware attacks continue to grab headlines, insurers providing directors and officers (D&O) coverage are concerned private company boards might not be managing cyber risk. “Are they allocating enough funds to cybersecurity? Are they going to have a lawsuit

Dollar vanishing to represent loss ratios.
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Can cyber coverage recover from past high loss ratios?

March 20, 2023 Jason Contant

The Canadian cyber market in general has suffered some “pretty bad loss ratios in the last couple of years,” said Jack Bottomley, senior consultant for cybersecurity with KPMG in Canada. Not long ago, the industry saw its cyber loss ratio

Computer wrapped with crime scene tape to represent a hacker attack
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Is cyber coverage broken? And, can it be fixed?

March 10, 2023 Jason Contant

Not long ago, the Canadian P&C industry’s cyber loss ratio was more than 400%, meaning cyber insurers were paying out an average of more than $4 for every $1 they received in premiums. Those first-quarter numbers from two years ago

Woman lamenting as two computer screens show her system has been hacked.
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Will cyber bonds help reinsurers transfer risk?

February 3, 2023 Philip Porado

Can reinsurers transfer cyber risk to the capital markets? We may be close to finding out. Recently, two announcements about the issuing of insurance-linked securities (ILS) show there’s a potential to create a broader reinsurance source for cyber risk, said

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Does your client need D&O or an ancillary coverage?

January 26, 2023 Philip Porado

While directors and officers (D&O) insurance is designed to cover individuals and corporate assets on the broadest threat level, certain exposures may require separate, dedicated policies focused on specific risks. When claim scenarios are investigated, it may become clear a

Malware detected on a computer
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Ski-Doo maker ramping up operations after cyberattack forced suspension

August 16, 2022 The Canadian Press

VALCOURT, Que. – BRP Inc. says it is ramping up production at four of its factories after a cyberattack brought its operations to a halt earlier this month. The Ski-Doo and Sea-Doo maker says manufacturing sites in Valcourt, Que., Sturtevant,

Concept of ransomware - businessman buying back data from a hacker
News Insurance

Do your clients have enough (or any) coverage for ransomware attacks?

August 10, 2022 by Jason Contant

Businesses in Canada and the United States are increasingly concerned about how they will pay ransomware demands and more than half would like governments to cover damages when future attacks are linked to other nation states, according to a new