Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in game-linked malware surge: Kaspersky

Across Southeast Asia, cyberthreats targeting gamers rose 86 percent over the same period, compared with the first half of the year.

Vietnam saw the sharpest increase at 202.5 percent, followed by Thailand at 104.4 percent.

Singapore recorded a 22.1-percent increase in gaming-related cyberthreats on user devices, just above Malaysia at 21.3 percent.

Indonesia was the only market with a decline in these cyberthreats at a 42.2-percent spike.

Kaspersky said cybercriminals are exploiting well-known games such as Roblox, Minecraft, and Genshin Impact by disguising malware as game files or fake hack and mod tools to lure users into downloading infected content.

Children and teenagers are the primary targets, as attackers use fake websites offering free in-game items or rewards to trick users into installing malicious software.

During the process, the younger players may inadvertently expose sensitive household information, including financial credentials.

Kaspersky said social media and search platforms continue to expose users to such content, while repeated recommendations by algorithms can increase the likelihood of interaction.

The company advised parents to monitor children’s downloads, avoid unofficial software, and ensure shared devices are protected with legitimate security solutions.