A Structural Threat to Security and Economy, Warns NU

The latest report from the National University (NU), published on April 9, 2026, presents an alarming outlook for digital security in Costa Rica. What were once perceived as isolated incidents are now confirmed as a structural problem affecting both institutional stability and the national economy.

Below are the key points of this analysis:

1. Explosion of Criminal Incidents

The growth of cybercrime has been exponential in recent years:

• Record Figures: More than 40,000 cybercrimes have been recorded in Costa Rica from 2018 through August 2025.
• Accelerated Growth: Between 2023 and 2024 alone, cases nearly doubled, showing a 96.7% increase.
• Frequency: Reports jumped from 1,600 annually in 2018 to over 10,000 per year in 2024 and 2025.

2. Most Frequent Types of Crime

The report reveals that attackers primarily exploit the “human factor”:

• Computer Fraud: Accounts for 62.1% of cases (25,100 reports).
• Identity Theft: Ranks second at 21.7% (8,757 cases).
• Victim Profile: The most affected group consists of people between 30 and 39 years old, with 79% of crimes concentrated in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM).

3. Structural and Economic Gaps

NU warns that the country’s vulnerability is not just technical, but a matter of investment and resources:

• Talent Shortage: 94.1% of organizations identify a lack of specialized personnel as their greatest barrier.
• Low R&D Investment: Costa Rica invests only 0.34% of its GDP in research and development, a figure significantly lower than the OECD average (2.67%).
• Lack of Prevention: 62% of institutions lack a formal risk assessment system, and 35% do not conduct cyberattack drills.

2026 Projections

Experts point out that cybercrime has become “industrialized.” For this year, the consolidation of AI-driven autonomous agents is expected. These are capable of executing full-scale attacks without human intervention, increasing the speed and precision of extortions against both public and private organizations.

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