{"id":68431,"date":"2025-02-20T11:07:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T03:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/?p=68431"},"modified":"2025-02-20T11:07:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T03:07:28","slug":"ph-climbs-global-ranking-for-local-cyber-threats-kaspersky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/2025\/02\/20\/ph-climbs-global-ranking-for-local-cyber-threats-kaspersky\/","title":{"rendered":"PH climbs global ranking for local cyber threats \u2013 Kaspersky"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Philippines\u2019 global ranking for local threats rose from 76th to 66th, highlighting the need for stronger cybersecurity measures, according to global cybersecurity and digital privacy company Kaspersky.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest Kaspersky Security Network (KSN)<\/a> showed that the Philippines recorded 17,706,118 local threat incidents, affecting 36.8% of users. This translates to an average of approximately 48,500 local threats per day in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local threats refer to malware transmitted through removable USB drives, external hard drives, and other offline methods. In 2023, Kaspersky detected 22,731,157 local threats, also affecting 36.8% of users, but ranking the country lower at 76th place worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adrian Hia, Kaspersky\u2019s Managing Director for Asia Pacific, said the rise in the Philippines\u2019 global ranking for local threats is a reminder that cybersecurity is a continuous effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile it\u2019s encouraging to see fewer local infections, cybercriminals are constantly evolving, leveraging foreign servers and more advanced attack methods. This highlights the need for both organizations and individuals to remain proactive in strengthening their cybersecurity defenses,\u201d Hia further said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KSN data shows that worms and file viruses account for the majority of local attacks. It is seen that malware attacks happen via removable devices like USBs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn 2024, we found<\/a> a new trend where a secure USB drive was compromised by a malicious code which was not only programmed to steal data, but acted as a USB worm infecting other USB drives. This proves that what we think of as a safe offline option to share data can also be compromised easily. To protect against such attacks, users not only need to deploy antivirus solutions but also have a firewall and control over their USB drives, CDs and DVDs,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While local infections have declined, cybercriminals are increasingly using servers from\u00a0foreign locations\u00a0to execute attacks. In\u00a02024, the\u00a0top sources were the Netherlands (39.52%), United States (26.15%), Germany (2.71%), France (2.61%), and Russia (1.74%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics, Kaspersky emphasizes the importance of a\u00a0multi-layered security approach, combining\u00a0endpoint protection, threat intelligence, and proactive detection\u00a0to defend against both\u00a0local malware infections\u00a0and\u00a0attacks from international cybercriminal networks.\u00a0To further enhance protection, individuals and businesses may also consider these additional security measures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Individuals:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n