Vietnamese firms hit hardest by spyware attacks in Southeast Asia

The figure far exceeded those of Malaysia and Indonesia, which each reported some 194,600 attacks.

The report highlights a sharp rise in spyware-related threats targeting enterprises across the region.

A total of 818,939 attacks were detected and neutralized in the region last year, up 18 percent year on year.

Singapore experienced the steepest increase in spyware attacks targeting businesses, reporting a year-on-year 111 percent spike.

The Philippines followed with an 85-percent surge, while Malaysia recorded a year-on-year rise of 75 percent.

Other major markets in the region also saw upward trends.

Indonesia registered a 35-percent increase in attacks, while Vietnam posted a more moderate rise of eight percent year on year.

Thailand was the only country in Southeast Asia to record a significant decline, with spyware attacks dropping by 53 percent from the previous year.

Simon Tung, Kaspersky’s general manager for ASEAN and Asia Emerging Countries, said cybercriminals are increasingly shifting their focus from disrupting operations to stealing strategic information and sensitive corporate data.

In Southeast Asia, attacks aimed at gathering confidential corporate intelligence are increasing rapidly, turning business networks into a gold mine for cybercriminals, he said.

Spyware is a form of malicious software secretly installed on a user’s computer to collect data.

Beyond exposing businesses to data leaks and misuse of confidential information, spyware can also consume system resources, reduce device and network performance, and disrupt daily operations.