According to Kaspersky’s newly released Financial Threats Report for 2023, mobile banking malware attacks increased by 32% last year. This surge highlights the growing risk to mobile banking users worldwide.Â
Turkey experienced the highest number of attacks, with nearly 3% of users affected. Other heavily impacted regions include Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
Key Malware Trends
- Bian.h Trojan: This was the most prevalent banking Trojan, responsible for 22% of all Android attacks.
- Agent Malware: Dominated Android malware, comprising 38% of attacks
While mobile threats rose, financial PC malware incidents decreased by 11%. The main culprits were Ramnit and Zbot, targeting over 50% of affected users.
Financial phishing accounted for 27.32% of attacks on corporate users and 30.68% on home users. Online shopping brands were the most common lure, making up 41.65% of attempts, with PayPal phishing representing 54.78% of pages targeting electronic payment system users.
In crypto land, cryptocurrency-related phishing saw a 16% increase, with 5.84 million detections in 2023 compared to 5.04 million in 2022.
Money has always been a magnet for cybercriminals, and a substantial portion of malware attacks are financially motivated. The surge in mobile malware witnessed last year highlights a concerning trend in cybercrime. With the emergence of new and aggressive malware strains, attackers are evolving their tactics to target mobile devices more aggressively. This underscores the imperative for individuals and businesses to maintain heightened vigilance, update protective measures, and fortify device security accordingly.
Igor Golovin, a security expert at Kaspersky To mitigate these threats, Kaspersky recommends:
- Regularly updating apps and operating systems.
- Downloading apps only from trusted sources.
- Using robust security software.
- Staying informed about the latest security threats.
As mobile banking continues to grow, so do the threats. Users and financial institutions must remain vigilant and adopt thorough security measures to safeguard against these evolving dangers.
