In the latest findings released by global cybersecurity leader Kaspersky, it has been revealed that the threat of local cyberattacks continues to plague businesses across Southeast Asia (SEA). The report, covering data from 2023, underscores the pressing need for heightened vigilance and robust cybersecurity measures in the region.
According to Kaspersky’s data, a staggering 43 million local threats targeted organizations throughout SEA in 2023 alone. This figure, derived from comprehensive scans conducted by Kaspersky’s business solutions, highlights the pervasive nature of cyber threats faced by businesses operating in the region.
Throughout the year, Kaspersky’s business solutions successfully intercepted and blocked a total of 42.7 million local infections. These local infections encompass a wide range of cyber threats, including those that infiltrate systems via infected files or removable media, as well as complex installers and encrypted files.
Despite a global increase in cyber threats targeting both individual users and businesses, SEA countries, except for Singapore, witnessed a slight decrease in the number of local threats detected and mitigated by Kaspersky’s solutions. Singapore experienced a concerning 67% year-on-year surge, with local incidents rising from 300,000 in 2022 to 500,000 in 2023.
| Indonesia | 16,400,000 |
| Malaysia | 2,500,000 |
| Philippines | 1,500,000 |
| Singapore | 500,000 |
| Thailand | 4,700,000 |
| Vietnam | 17,100,000 |
Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand emerged as the most heavily affected countries, collectively experiencing a significant volume of local threats throughout the year.
“Southeast Asia shows a solid potential to become a major manufacturing hub globally. The region is also consistent in charting steady digital economic growth through the years. To be able to continue these feats, organizations, whether operating on IT or OT systems, should build their cyber defenses against sophisticated attacks that use the same old techniques and tactics,” according to Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky.
Protecting against local cyberattacks demands a multifaceted approach, encompassing not only robust security solutions capable of detecting and neutralizing infected objects but also comprehensive firewall protection, anti-rootkit functionality, and strict control over removable devices.
Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business stands out as a comprehensive solution, enabling organizations to conduct thorough scans of removable drives for malware, thereby curbing the spread of malicious software via external storage devices.
The cybersecurity company offers the Kaspersky Unified Monitoring and Analysis Platform (KUMA), an integrated software solution designed to enhance event monitoring and management capabilities. Serving as both a log management system and a fully-fledged Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system, KUMA provides organizations with the tools needed to effectively monitor and analyze security incidents in real time.
The latest threat reports from Kaspersky can be accessed on Securelist.com, offering valuable insights into emerging cyber threats and trends.