Cybercriminals sent 400,000 new malicious files daily in 2022
According to Kaspersky’s detection algorithms, there were 400,000 malicious files sent daily on average in 2022, up 5% from 2021. The prevalence of some threats increased as well; Kaspersky experts, for instance, noted an 181% rise in the daily ransomware detection rate. These and other discoveries are contained in the Kaspersky Security Bulletin (KSB), an annual collection of forecasts and investigative reports on significant changes in the cybersecurity industry.
Between January and October 2022, Kaspersky’s detection systems identified an average of 403,000 new malicious files every day. In contrast, every day in 2021 saw the detection of around 380,000 of these files, representing a 5% increase. In all, 122 million harmful files were found by Kaspersky’s systems in 2022, an increase of 6 million from 2021.
Researchers from Kaspersky found that the daily prevalence of ransomware climbed by 181% from 2021 to 2022, reaching 9,500 encrypted files every day. Among other concerns, Kaspersky security tools also picked up a 142% increase in the percentage of Downloaders, which are malicious programs that update malware or install unwanted software on affected computers.
Of all the platforms where threat families were present, Windows remained the main target of attacks. Experts from Kaspersky found an average of about 320,000 harmful files targeting Windows computers in 2022. 85% of malicious files that were distributed specifically targeted Windows. Windows is not the only well-liked platform for attackers, though. Additionally, Kaspersky’s detection systems found that in 2022 there was a 236% increase in the daily distribution of dangerous files in Microsoft Office formats.
Experts from Kaspersky also noted a 10% increase in the percentage of malicious files daily targeting the Android platform in 2022. As a result, fraudsters now frequently target Android users in addition to Windows and Office users. Prime instances of this pattern include the infamous 2022 campaigns Harly and Triada Trojan, which ambushed thousands of Android users worldwide.
according to Vladimir Kuskov, head of anti-malware research at Kaspersky, given how quickly the threat environment is growing and how many new devices are entering users’ everyday lives, it’s feasible that by 2023 we’ll be identifying half a million malicious files per day rather than the current 400,000! Malware-as-a-Service has made it possible for even inexperienced fraudsters to target devices without any programming or technical knowledge, which makes it much more dangerous. Cybercrime has never been so simple to commit. Every regular user must utilize dependable security solutions to prevent becoming a victim of cybercriminals, not just huge organizations. In response, Kaspersky experts will make every effort to safeguard against these risks and prevent customers from suffering losses so that their daily online experience is fully safe.
