Kaspersky Warns of Surge in Mobile Banking Malware and Crypto Phishing
Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has revealed a significant rise in mobile banking malware and financial phishing attacks in its 2023 Financial Threats Report. The report highlights a 32% increase in global mobile banking malware cases and a 16% surge in cryptocurrency-related phishing and scams.
Turkey tops the list for mobile banking malware attacks, with nearly three percent of users affected. Security expert Igor Golovin warns of evolving malware strains targeting mobile devices more aggressively. To mitigate risks, Kaspersky recommends downloading apps only from official stores, scrutinizing app permissions, using reliable security solutions, and regularly updating operating systems and crucial apps.
Financial PC malware, however, has declined by 11%. Yet, threats from families like Ramnit and Zbot persist. E-shop brands, particularly PayPal, are the top lures for financial phishing attempts. Amazon was the most mimicked online store in phishing attempts, followed by Apple and Netflix. Financial phishing represents over a quarter of all phishing attacks on corporate users and nearly a third on home users.
Android users have experienced a surge in banking Trojan attacks, with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan most affected.
The Kaspersky report underscores the evolving nature of financial cyber threats, with mobile devices and cryptocurrency users particularly vulnerable. As malware strains become more aggressive, users and businesses must remain vigilant and follow security best practices to protect their financial data.
