Kaspersky’s global report: Detection systems discovered significant increase in Windows malware

ISLAMABAD: An international cybersecurity company disclosed Thursday that around 467,000 malicious files/software attacked users per day in 2024 with Windows remained primary target for cyberattacks.

In this regard, Kaspersky has issued a global report on cyberattacks during 2024 on Thursday.

According to the latest report, Kaspersky’s detection systems discovered a significant increase in Windows malware – 19 percent from 2023 to 2024. The most widespread type of malware continues to be Trojans – malicious programs that disguise themselves as legitimate software – with a surge of 33 percent from 2023 to 2024.

There has also been a 2.5-fold (150 percent) increase in the use of Trojan-droppers – programs designed to deliver other malware to a victim’s computer or phone without the victim noticing.

The report said that certain types of threats saw significant growth with experts reporting a 33 percent surge in Trojan detections compared to 2023. These and other findings are described in the Kaspersky Security Bulletin (KSB) – an annual series of reports analyzing major developments in the cybersecurity landscape.

“Windows continued to be the primary target for cyberattacks, accounting for 93 percent of all malware-filled data detected daily. Malicious families disseminated through various scripts and different Microsoft Office document formats ranked among the top three threats, accounting for 6 percent of all malicious files detected daily,” the report said.

“The number of new threats grows every year as adversaries continue to develop new malware, techniques and methods to attack users and organizations. This year was no exception to this, and there were dangerous trends observed, such as attacks on trusted relationships and supply chains, including those on open-source packages (e.g., the XZ case). There were massive phishing and malicious campaigns targeting social media users and a rise in banking malware.

And, of course, the use of AI tools to generate new malware or facilitate phishing attacks. In this evolving cyber threat landscape, the use of reliable security solutions is vital. Kaspersky experts are always dedicated to countering new and challenging cyberthreats, ensuring a secure online experience for users as well as robust cybersecurity and the latest threat intelligence for organizations,” comments Vladimir Kuskov, Head of Anti-Malware Research at Kaspersky.

To stay protected, Kaspersky recommends Individual users should not download and install applications from untrusted sources. Always use two-factor authentication when available. Create strong and unique passwords, using a mix of lower-case and upper-case letters, numbers, and punctuation. Use a reliable password manager to help to remember them. Always install updates when they become available; they contain fixes for critical security issues.

Use a robust security solution appropriate to your system type and devices, such as award-winning Kaspersky Premium, global cybersecurity company added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025