Emmanuel OchayiKaspersky, a renowned cybersecurity company, has unveiled startling statistics revealing a rise in cyber threats in 2023.
Detection systems indicate a surge in malicious files and evolving attack tactics, emphasizing the critical need for heightened cybersecurity measures.
In the Kaspersky Security Bulletin, it was revealed that the company’s detection systems flagged an average of 411,000 malicious files daily in 2023, marking a 3% increase from the previous year.
The report highlighted a 53% uptick in attacks involving malicious Microsoft Office and various document formats, showcasing a concerning trend in cyber assailants’ strategies.
Vladimir Kuskov, Head of Anti-Malware Research at Kaspersky, expressed his concerns: “The cyberthreat landscape continues to evolve, becoming more dangerous year after year. Adversaries continue to develop new malware, techniques, and methods to attack organizations and individuals.”
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The findings underscored the persistent targeting of Windows systems, accounting for 88% of the detected malware-laden data each day. Notably, malicious families distributed through different document formats constituted 10% of all detected malicious files daily.
Kaspersky’s detection systems observed a surge, with almost 125 million malicious files detected throughout 2023.
Notably, attacks using phishing PDF files saw a 53% increase, potentially linked to data pilfering tactics aimed at unsuspecting victims.
Trojans remained the most widespread form of malware. However, a notable spike in backdoor usage was reported, rising from 15,000 to 40,000 detected files per day from 2022 to 2023.
Backdoors emerged as a particularly perilous form of trojans, granting attackers remote access and control over victims’ systems, allowing various malicious activities.
Kaspersky, in response to these escalating threats, offered essential tips to users and organizations to enhance their cybersecurity posture. These tips include cautious downloading practices, strong password creation, regular software updates, and the usage of reliable security solutions like Kaspersky Premium and Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business.
The company emphasized the importance of staying informed about the latest threat intelligence to combat evolving cyber threats effectively.
The findings were based on Kaspersky’s detections from January to October, as part of their annual series of predictions and analytical reports, the Kaspersky Security Bulletin.
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