Over 135,000 ransomware attacks detected in Southeast Asia in 2024

Businesses in Singapore saw 208 ransomware attacks, the lowest in the region.

Businesses across Southeast Asia faced a staggering 400 ransomware attacks per day in 2024, according to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, which detected and blocked a total of 135,274 ransomware attempts in the region over the year.

The attacks surged sharply in the second half of the year, rising from 57,000 in the first half to nearly 80,000 in the final six months.

The report pointed to a growing wave of cyber threats targeting companies of all sizes across the region, with attackers deploying increasingly sophisticated tools and tactics.

Indonesia experienced the highest volume of attacks at 57,554, followed by Vietnam (29,282) and the Philippines (21,629). Malaysia saw one of the most dramatic increases, with ransomware detections jumping by 153% YoY to 12,643 in 2024.

On the other hand, businesses in Singapore saw 208 ransomware attacks, the lowest in the region.

High-profile incidents cited in the report include ransomware breaches at a national data centre, a government foreign worker portal, a postal service provider, and several retail systems.