Turns out most cybercriminals are old enough to know better

Contrary to what some believe, cybercrime is not a kids' game. Middle-aged adults, not teenagers, now make up the biggest chunk of people getting busted.

That's according to new analysis of 418 publicly announced law enforcement actions between 2021 and mid-2025, which shows offenders aged 35 to 44 account for 37 percent of cases, making it the largest single age group. Add in those aged 25 to 34, who make up another 30 percent, and nearly six in ten cases involve people between 25 and 44.

By contrast, the much-hyped 18-24 bracket accounts for 21 percent, while under-18s barely register at under 5 percent.

In other words, the "teenage hacker in a hoodie" stereotype makes for good Netflix, but the people actually ending up in handcuffs are far more likely to be juggling mortgages than homework.

The numbers come from Orange Cyberdefense's latest Security Navigator report, which combs ...