India Experienced 7 Lakh Malware Attacks In 2022: Report

A new report revealed that India experienced approximately seven lakh malware attacks in 2022, up from 6.5 lakh in 2021.

The report noted that the banking sector was the most vulnerable to these attacks, totalling 44,949 incidents. However, there was a slight decline in the number of malware detections across the six critical sectors, indicating that appropriate measures are being taken.

In 2021, the report said top three sectors affected by ransomware were banking, government, and manufacturing, but the trend shifted in 2022 when the government sector became the most affected, followed by manufacturing and banking. 

“The Trend Micro Annual Cybersecurity Report 2022 has highlighted some concerning trends specific to India, as cyber threats continue to evolve and pose significant risks to organisations. The report reveals a 16 per cent increase in malware attacks, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance and collaboration to safeguard critical industries such as banking, government, and manufacturing,” said Vijendra Katiyar, Country manager for India & SAARC, Trend Micro.

Interestingly, while the number of attacks on the banking sector decreased significantly from 15,928 to just 626 ransomware alerts, the number of attacks on the government sector remained relatively stable, and the manufacturing sector saw an increase from 994 to 1,178 incidents in 2022, mentioned the Trend Micro report.

“The report emphasises the importance of a multi-layered cybersecurity approach, including proactive threat hunting, security awareness training, and investment in advanced security technologies,” added Katiyar.