A recent report from Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) for the second quarter of 2024 has revealed that Indian computer users remain highly vulnerable to cyberattacks through web browsers and social engineering. The report highlights that nearly 20% of users in India were targeted by web-borne threats during this period, with file-less malware emerging as the most dangerous cyber threat.

Kaspersky’s findings show that over 10 million internet-borne cyber threats and more than 14 million local incidents were detected on users’ computers between April and June 2024. The report also indicates that 19.7% of users in India were affected by online threats, while 19.2% experienced local infection incidents, such as worms and file viruses.

Kaspersky security solutions blocked over 10.6 million unique web-borne threats during this quarter, with attackers exploiting browser vulnerabilities and infected websites to compromise user systems. The persistence of file-less malware, which evades detection by hiding its malicious code in the system registry or WMI subscriptions, continues to be a significant challenge. Additionally, social engineering tactics, including phishing, baiting, and pretexting, remain prevalent.

Commenting on the report, Jaydeep Singh, General Manager for India at Kaspersky, noted that while Indian users are becoming more digitally adept, the evolving threat landscape—driven in part by AI-powered cybercriminal tactics—continues to pose risks. He emphasized that Kaspersky products leverage machine learning-based models for real-time malware detection and prevention to safeguard users.