Phishing Attacks: A Big Problem In Southeast Asia

According to recent research by cybersecurity company Kaspersky, one in five employees opens emails that are designed for phishing or stealing private and sensitive information. Despite the dangers of cybercrime, many employees remain unaware of the risks they are exposing themselves and their companies to.

In Southeast Asia, the problem is even more acute, with 16 to 18% of employees negligent of phishing scams that are involved in corporate issues and online platforms. Phishing emails can be designed to pose as reservations and travel arrangements, orders, or even company announcements. The ease with which these emails can be created and the sophistication of their design means that many employees may not realize that they are being targeted.

Yeo Siang Tiong, Kaspersky Southeast Asia General Manager, said that it’s odd how financial phishing is becoming a problem for companies despite the fact that there is still a human workforce behind businesses. Phishing is all about social engineering, and people just need to be more critical and aware of the risks.

Kaspersky has been working hard to combat phishing scams that are designed to attack businesses of all sizes in the region. In total, the company has blocked 820,000 phishing scams, ranging from small businesses to publicly listed companies.

In the Philippines alone, there were almost 53,000 digital phishing attacks. Indonesia blocked nearly 300,000 phishing scams, and Vietnam did about 172,000. Most of these attacks are targeted at financial institutions, ecommerce websites, and payment solutions.

Hackers can be incredibly sophisticated in their approach, even launching a copy of big brands such as Visa, Apple, and PayPal. These fake emails can appear genuine to the untrained eye, and once an employee has clicked on the link, they may be asked to enter sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, or other personal information.

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, it’s more important than ever for companies to invest in cybersecurity measures and to educate their employees on how to recognize phishing scams. Simple measures such as two-factor authentication, secure passwords, and regular staff training can make a significant difference in protecting businesses from cybercrime.

With the number of phishing scams on the rise, it’s essential that businesses take action to protect themselves and their employees from these threats. By investing in the right cybersecurity measures and educating employees on the dangers of phishing, companies can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to cybercrime.