Ransomware attacks on South-east Asian SMEs fall in first half of 2020

September 4th, 2020 – Ransomware attacks on computeres of small and medium enterprises (SME) in South-east Asia have in the first half of this year have dropped to about one-third of the number seen in the same period last year, according to a cybersecurity firm.

Kaspersky said it detected and blocked 504,304 ransomware attacks from January to June 2020 in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, down from about 1.4 million hits during the same period in 2019.

Ransomware is a malicious software that infects one’s computer, locks the computer screen or encrypts important files with a key, and displays messages demanding a fee to be paid in exchange for the promise to have the computer to work again.

The company blocked 277 hits on Singapore companies during those six months this year – a reduction of 90 per cent compared to last year. This is followed by Malaysia, which saw an 88 per cent drop to 6,683 hits. Indonesia saw a 68 per cent drop with 268,166 hits.

More…https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/asean-business/ransomware-attacks-on-south-east-asian-smes-fall-in-first-half-of-2020-cybersecurity

Written by The Business Times