It's just one manufacturer that's on the lookout for new malware around the clock: Kaspersky discovered an average of 2023 new malicious files per day in 411.000; this corresponds to an increase of almost three percent compared to the previous year.
More than half (53 percent) of attacks involved malicious Microsoft Office and other types of documents. There has also been a significant increase in backdoor Trojans that can control infected systems - 40.000 discoveries were made every day this year. Kaspersky security solutions discovered an average of 2023 new malicious files daily between January and October 411.000. This is around three percent more than in the previous year. The number of widespread malware has been increasing continuously since 2019.
More malware compared to last year
In total, Kaspersky experts discovered 125 million malicious files between January and October. The primary target of cybercriminals continued to be Windows devices, which accounted for 88 percent of all malware discovered daily. The three most common malware threats this year were families distributed via various scripts and various document formats. They were responsible for one in ten malware discovered every day.
Proliferates malware in document files
Malicious files in document formats in particular recorded a significant increase of 53 percent during the study period - with around 24.000 malicious files detected daily. This also included popular and frequently used file formats such as Microsoft Office and PDF. Kaspersky experts see the increase in phishing attacks using PDF files to steal data as a possible reason for this.
Significant increase in dangerous backdoor Trojans
Trojans were once again the most widespread type of malware this year. Backdoors in particular have increased over the past few years: from 15.000 files discovered per day in 2022 to 40.000 in 2023. The remote control that attackers gain over infected systems through backdoors makes them particularly dangerous. This allows them not only to send, receive, execute and remove files, but also to collect private information and track the user's activities.
“The threat landscape is constantly evolving and becoming more dangerous every year,” comments Vladimir Kuskov, Head of Anti-Malware Research at Kaspersky. “Cybercriminals are constantly developing new malware, strategies and methods to attack companies and individuals. The number of reported security vulnerabilities that threat actors such as ransomware actors have no hesitation in exploiting is also increasing every year. In addition, getting into cybercrime is becoming easier thanks to the spread of AI. Attackers use the technology, for example, to create more convincing text for phishing messages. Therefore, the use of reliable security solutions is essential for both companies and private users. Our experts are committed to tackling ever-evolving cyber threats to protect users online at all times and provide them with valuable information about relevant threats.”
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About Kaspersky Kaspersky is an international cybersecurity company founded in 1997. Kaspersky's in-depth threat intelligence and security expertise serve as the basis for innovative security solutions and services to protect companies, critical infrastructures, governments and private users worldwide. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection as well as a range of specialized security solutions and services to defend against complex and evolving cyber threats. Kaspersky technologies protect over 400 million users and 250.000 corporate customers. More information about Kaspersky can be found at www.kaspersky.com/