Few things are more chilling than falling victim to a cybercrime, yet recent research from Mastercard shows more than half Canadian small business owners have not had any form of cybersecurity training. * As cyberattacks and fraud continue to rise in Canada, Mastercard has teamed up with Canada's fastest-growing podcast network, Curiouscast, to educate Canadians by bringing real victims' stories and the history of cybercrime to life to mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Canadians are increasingly targets of ransomware attacks, with organized cybercrime activity posing a threat to national security and economic propserity, according to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. October is also Small Business Month in Canada, and only 16 per cent of Canadian small business owners felt prepared for a cyber attack, while nearly two-thirds (63%) don't even consider themselves a likely target

Using its global expertise in security solutions, Mastercard is tapping into the power of podcasts to help Canadians better understand cybersecurity risks through special episodes of acclaimed true crime series Nighttime and Dark Poutine.

"When it comes to cyberattacks, it's not a matter of if a small business will be targeted, it's a matter of when. However, the marjority of Canadian small business owners not they feel unprepared and unprotected against cyber threats," said Amisha, Parikh, Vice President, Security Solutions, Mastercard. "There's a clear cybersecurity education gap that must be closed because everyone - from consumers to small business - are vulnerable."

Available on all podcast-streaming platforms, new episodes from Nighttime and Dark Poutine recount real-life experiences of cyberattacks and the history of cybercrime, while staying true to the respective format of both popular Canadian true crime shows.

"The Nighttime and Dark Poutine teams have masterfully harnessed the power of audio storytelling to immerse listeners in the reality of fraud and scam experience," added Parikh. "We hope these real-life stories and the history of cybercrime will not only entertain Canadians but also inspire them to take action to better protect themselves and their businesses from cyber threats."