Cybersecurity and digital privacy company Kaspersky’s latest report reveals a staggering 336,294 phishing attacks targeting businesses across Southeast Asia in the first half of 2024. These attacks, primarily aimed at stealing credentials and sensitive data, impersonated e-commerce, banking, and payment platforms. The surge, up 41 percent from previous year, is linked to the region’s rapid digital adoption and cybercriminals’ growing use of artificial intelligence to create more convincing scams.
Adrian Hia, managing director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, said, “The rise in financial phishing is not due to a drop in user vigilance, but rather the increasing sophistication and aggressiveness of cybercriminals, who are now targeting corporate systems as well as individuals.”
Thailand saw the highest number of financial phishing attacks, with 141,258 incidents, followed by Indonesia (48,439) and Vietnam (40,102). The most alarming spikes were in Thailand (up 582 percent) and Singapore (up 406 percent).
Phishing tactics are becoming more advanced, using not only emails but also social media, fake apps, and even deepfake videos and voice messages to deceive victims. With banking, insurance, and e-commerce remaining prime targets, Kaspersky urges organizations to implement robust security measures, including regular software updates, secure VPNs, and employee cybersecurity training.
Kaspersky also recommends setting up a security operations centre (SOC) to enhance monitoring and response capabilities. For businesses with limited IT expertise, solutions like Kaspersky’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service and Small Office Security offer streamlined protection.
“The cyber threat landscape in Southeast Asia will continue to evolve, and businesses must adapt to stay ahead of these increasingly sophisticated attacks,” Hia said.
