Kaspersky’s telemetry revealed a concerning trend in Pakistan, with a 17% surge in cyberthreats recorded in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Kaspersky, a leading global cybersecurity and digital privacy company, unveiled alarming statistics regarding the cybersecurity landscape in Pakistan during its 9th annual Cyber Security Weekend – META 2024.
The event served as a platform to discuss the evolving nature of cyber threats, particularly in regions embracing emerging technologies like AI, which significantly influence the scale and sophistication of modern cyberattacks.
Highlighting the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, experts delved into the growing threats targeting industrial control systems. Central to the discussions was Kaspersky’s Cyber Immunity approach, aimed at developing solutions impervious to compromise, thereby mitigating potential vulnerabilities.
Kaspersky’s telemetry revealed a concerning trend in Pakistan, with a 17% surge in cyberthreats recorded in 2023 compared to the previous year. The company thwarted a staggering 16 million cyber attacks in Pakistan alone during 2023.
According to the latest research, approximately 24.4% of users in Pakistan fell victim to online threats. Banking malware attacks witnessed a significant spike of 59%, targeting online banking credentials and sensitive information. Trojan attacks, masquerading as legitimate programs but harboring malicious intent, surged by 35%. Moreover, ransomware attacks, encrypting victims’ data for ransom, escalated by 24%, while spyware attacks, clandestinely gathering and transmitting user data, saw a 36% increase.
Amin Hasbini, Director of META Research Center Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT), emphasized Pakistan’s pivotal role in Asia’s digital transformation. He remarked, “As the cybersecurity landscape evolves, cyber threats continue to become diverse and sophisticated. This trend is particularly evident due to the emergence of advanced technologies like AI and the escalating geopolitical and economic turbulence within the META region. These factors collectively contribute to the surge in cybercrime and the heightened complexity of cyberattacks.”
Analyzing the cybersecurity threat landscape across the META region, Kaspersky noted significant fluctuations. Turkey reported the highest number of users affected by online threats (41.8%), followed by Kenya (39.2%), Qatar (38.8%), and South Africa (35%). Conversely, Oman (23.4%) and Egypt (27.4%) experienced fewer incidents, followed by Saudi Arabia (29.9%) and Kuwait (30.8%).
The findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures and vigilance to counter the escalating cyber threats facing Pakistan and the broader META region.