Ransomware incidents in Southeast Asia surge in 2023, prompting Kaspersky to urge organizations to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses with comprehensive anti-ransomware solutions.
25 April 2024 – A significant increase in ransomware incidents across Southeast Asia (SEA) has been reported, with Kaspersky cybersecurity solutions detecting a total of 287,413 incidents in 2023. According to experts, the rise in targeted ransomware attacks underscores the urgent need for organizations, regardless of size, to bolster their IT security measures.
The latest findings from Kaspersky reveal a concerning trend in ransomware attacks across SEA, with Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam experiencing the highest numbers of incidents. Notable targets include banks, healthcare facilities, transportation systems, hotels, media conglomerates, and energy companies.
Fedor Sinitsyn, Lead Malware Analyst at Kaspersky, highlights the evolving nature of ransomware attacks, which now often involve data theft and encryption, known as double extortion. This shift allows attackers to demand higher ransom sums, making the threat even more damaging to organizations.
Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia and Asia Emerging Economies at Kaspersky, emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity solutions providing comprehensive anti-ransomware protection. Kaspersky’s Endpoint Security for Business, Small Office Security, and Standard solutions have demonstrated effectiveness in real-life attack scenarios.
In response to the growing threat of ransomware, Kaspersky collaborates with Europol, the Dutch National Police, and others through the No More Ransom initiative. This initiative provides decryption tools and assistance to ransomware victims worldwide, with Kaspersky contributing free decryption tools targeting 39 ransomware families.
To mitigate the risk of ransomware attacks, Kaspersky recommends implementing strong cybersecurity measures, such as securing remote access services, keeping software updated, conducting regular backups, and educating employees on cybersecurity best practices.
