Kaspersky has recently released a report that sheds light on the growing cybersecurity threats faced by businesses, urging them to adopt proactive security measures to mitigate risks. The report highlighted three key points that organizations need to be aware of in order to protect themselves from cyberattacks: AI-driven threats, surging banking malware, and rising cloud security risks.
According to the report, organizations in South Africa have reported an average of 19 cybersecurity incidents within a year, emphasizing the need for increased vigilance in the face of evolving threats. At the 25th Cyber Security Summit South Africa held in Johannesburg, Kaspersky presented some of the most pressing threats to businesses and proposed solutions to reduce risk exposure.
One of the concerning statistics from the report is the detection of 467,000 malicious files daily globally by Kaspersky, marking a significant 14% increase from the previous year. In South Africa, 34.2% of Kaspersky users encountered web-borne threats, highlighting the growing risks in the digital space. Banking and financial malware saw a surge of 34% in 2024, posing a significant challenge to financial institutions and consumers. Additionally, password stealer detections increased by 14%, raising concerns about identity theft and data breaches.
Another alarming trend identified in the report is the adaptability of cybercriminals, with affiliates adopting a “multi-platform” approach to spread their operations across regions. Kaspersky warned of the Grandoreiro banking trojan expanding from Latin America to Asia and Africa, targeting over 1,700 financial institutions and 276 cryptocurrency wallets across 45 countries. African countries affected include South Africa, Algeria, Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Experts at Kaspersky highlighted the growing concerns for businesses, such as AI-enhanced cyber threats and the rising cloud security risks. Cyber attackers are utilizing AI-powered phishing scams, malware development, and automation to launch more sophisticated attacks. Additionally, businesses are increasingly adopting cloud-based services without adequately securing them against data breaches and misconfigurations. Social engineering techniques remain a major cybersecurity risk, with human error ranging from phishing to deepfakes.
To combat these growing threats, Kaspersky recommends that businesses take a proactive approach to cybersecurity. This includes gathering threat intelligence relevant to their industry, geography, and software profile, implementing advanced security solutions like Kaspersky Next, and providing employee training to prevent human error exploitation. Regular threat assessments and penetration testing are also crucial to identifying vulnerabilities before they can be targeted by cybercriminals.
In conclusion, Dmitry Berezin, a Global Security Solutions Expert at Kaspersky, emphasized the importance of a comprehensive security strategy that combines robust cybersecurity solutions, employee education, and threat intelligence acquisition to protect assets, customers, and reputation in an increasingly hostile digital landscape. By integrating intelligence-driven security measures, companies can better safeguard themselves against the growing threat of cybercrime.