MUMBAI: Cybersecurity provider Trend Micro Incorporated recently unveiled its Trend Micro 2024 Midyear Cybersecurity Threat Report outlining India’s heightened cybersecurity risks.
The report underscores India’s growing prominence as a prime target for sophisticated cyberattacks, such as email threats, ransomware and malware. With the nation’s digital infrastructure rapidly expanding across critical sectors like Banking, Government, and Manufacturing, India now stands at the forefront of global cybersecurity challenges. The findings reveal an urgent need for organizations to strengthen their defenses against evolving cyber threats.
Ransomware and Malware Surge
While Japan and The United States currently lead the world in malware detections, India ranks third worldwide with 4.7% of all detected threats. Regionally, India holds the 2 spot in Asia, responsible for 9.95% of malware cases, and dominates South Asia with a staggering 94.2% of all malware detections highlighting its increasing vulnerability in this area. Notable malware families like CoinMiner, fakeMS, and Mudyupdate present severe risks to the nation’s critical sectors.
On the ransomware front, India ranks 10 globally and 6 in Asia, with 1,17,200 ransomware threats detected in 2024—accounting for 2.95% of global and 4.97% of Asia’s ransomware incidents. In South Asia, India leads with 73.8% of ransomware cases, making it a dominant target. Key ransomware families such as WCry, Cobra, and GandCrab repeatedly attack critical industries like Banking, Government, and Manufacturing, which remain lucrative targets for financially driven ransomware gangs.
Escalating Email Threats in the region
India grapples with a surge in email-based attacks, ranking 2 globally, behind the United States and leading the charge in Asia. Out of 1,018 billion email threats worldwide, India accounted for an alarming 8.3%, translating to 84.17 million threats. Dominating South Asia, India is responsible for 92.27% of the region’s email-based incidents, underscoring the critical need for organizations to prioritize robust email security solutions to defend against this rising menace.
Commenting on the report’s findings, Sharda Tickoo, Country Manager for India & SAARC, Trend Micro, said, “As cybercriminals employ increasingly sophisticated tactics, key sectors in the region are increasingly under attack from ransomware, email threats, and malware. Staying ahead requires a proactive, unified platform approach rather than fragmented solutions. Our report provides strategic insights for businesses to strengthen their defenses, especially as emerging technologies like generative AI transform the threat landscape. The time to shift from reactive to proactive cybersecurity is now, with a focus on comprehensive threat detection and heightened awareness.”
Furthermore, the report indicates that globally, cloud-based apps, services, and assets are at heightened risk as cybercriminals are exploiting exposed credentials and vulnerabilities. The lack of updated endpoint protection on unmanaged devices further exposes businesses to significant risks. Additionally, cybercriminals have capitalized on the growing interest in AI technologies by employing tactics such as jailbreaking existing LLMs, bundling legitimate AI software with malicious payloads, and utilizing deep fake-generating AI tools.
Trend Micro, dedicated to empowering organizations and individuals with advanced cybersecurity solutions to combat evolving threats in today’s digital landscape, advises security leaders to:
Implement measures to prevent threats from infiltrating networks, proactively anticipating ransomware attacks that could lead to extortion after data breaches.
Transition from isolated security tools to a unified platform approach that integrates seamlessly, enhancing overall security posture.
Recognize that AI capabilities can not only streamline operations but also serve legitimate security purposes against cybercriminals exploiting the same technologies.
Conduct training programs to educate end users on identifying and avoiding risky websites and links, as human error remains a critical vulnerability.
Prioritize the efficiency of Security Operations Centers (SOCs) by closely monitoring cloud applications as they become integral to daily operations.
Collaborate with reliable security vendors that utilize a platform-based approach, ensuring resources are secured and continuously monitored for vulnerabilities.
