Cybersecurity company, Trend Micro Incorporated said that it blocked 40.9 billion email threats, malicious files, and malicious URLs for customers in the first half of 2021, a 47% year-on-year increase.
In Malaysia alone, Trend Micro claims:
- A total of 232,701,368 attacks were blocked the first half of the year.
- Over half consisted of email threats at 145,947,167, which registered an increase of 24% from 1H 2020.
- The number of detected malware increased by 160% from 1H 2020 to 6,604,199.
Globally, ransomware remained a serious threat in the first half of the year as cyber criminals continues to target major companies. Working with third parties to gain access to targeted networks, they used Advanced Persistent Threat tools and techniques to steal and encrypt victims’ data.
The banking industry, in particular, was disproportionately affected, experiencing a 1,318% year-on-year increase in ransomware attacks in the first half of 2021.
Trend Micro’s report further revealed that:
- Business email compromise (BEC) attacks increased by 4%, potentially as a result of new COVID-19 opportunities for threat actors.
- Cryptocurrency miners became the most detected malware, having surged ahead of WannaCry and web shells in recent months.
- The Zero Day Initiative detected 770 vulnerabilities, a slight (2%) drop from 1H 2020.
- A total of 164 malicious apps related to COVID-19 scams were detected, 54% of which impersonated TikTok.
Download the full report here [PDF].