Global mobile banking malware attacks have increased by 32% in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to Kaspersky’s Financial Threats Report. The report, published on May 6, highlights a significant surge in attacks targeting Android users, with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan experiencing the highest rates of encounters with banking Trojans. Turkey leads globally, with nearly three percent of users affected by mobile banking malware.
Despite an 11% decline in financial PC malware, threats from malware families like Ramnit and Zbot continue to pose risks, particularly to consumers. Financial phishing remains a critical concern, representing over a quarter of all phishing attacks on corporate users and nearly a third on home users. E-shop brands are the top lure for these phishing attempts, with PayPal phishing constituting over half of all financial phishing attempts.
Cryptocurrency-related phishing and scams are also on the rise, with Kaspersky preventing over 5.8 million attempts to follow cryptocurrency-themed phishing links in 2023, a 16% increase from the previous year. Notably, Amazon is the most mimicked online store for phishing attempts, followed by Apple and Netflix.
Kaspersky emphasizes the need for heightened vigilance and enhanced security measures to combat these evolving threats. Recommendations include downloading apps only from official stores, scrutinizing app permissions, utilizing reliable security solutions, and regularly updating operating systems and crucial apps.
