Kaspersky’s security systems detected an average of 400,000 new malicious files distributed per day over the past 10 months, indicating an increase of 5% compared to the previous year. The number of certain types of threats also rose, with Kaspersky experts reporting a 181% increase in Percentage of ransomware detected per day.
These findings are part of Kaspersky’s annual Security Bulletin, which provides forecasts and analytical reports on major shifts in the cybersecurity industry. In total, Kaspersky systems detected approximately 122 million malicious files in 2022, an increase of 6 million over the previous year.
According to Kaspersky researchers, the percentage of ransomware detected per day increased by 181% compared to the previous year, with the company’s security solutions detecting an average of 9,500 cryptographic files per day. In addition to ransomware, Kaspersky also reported a 142% increase in the percentage of downloaders, namely Malware that installs new versions of malware or unwanted applications on infected devices.
Windows also remained the most targeted platform for attacks, with Kaspersky experts detecting nearly 320,000 malicious files targeting Windows devices. Of all the malicious files detected, 85% were targeting Windows.
However, attackers don’t just target Windows, Kaspersky’s detection systems also show that the number of malicious files in Microsoft Office formats distributed daily doubles, and in 2022 Kaspersky experts report a 10% increase in the share of malicious files targeting the Android platform. As a result, Android users are becoming increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, as seen in campaigns such as Harly and the Triada Trojan. These campaigns have also targeted thousands of Android users around the world.
Kaspersky’s Annual Security Bulletin is a series of reports and forecasts on major shifts in the cybersecurity industry, and includes analyzes and findings on various aspects of cybersecurity, such as the types and prevalence of threats, the most targeted platforms and devices, and other trends and developments in the field.