Kaspersky, a cybersecurity company, has prevented 1,585,384 security threats against businesses in the Philippines in 2022. The total number of security incidents in the Southeast Asian region is 49,042,966, a dip from 69 million in 2021.

Kaspersky business solutions found malicious software programs (malware) on computers, flash drives, memory cards, external hard drives, and even smartphones. Cybercriminals can initiate hacking on companies once malware infected their networks through these devices.

“Despite the downward trend, businesses should still be on guard because weaponized USBs and removable drives can still be an effective source of malware that can compromise your networks, servers, and even hardware,” said Yeo Siang Tiong, general manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

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While local threats against SEA businesses are higher compared with the number of online attacks monitored and blocked by Kaspersky last year, a steady dip is also observed on a year-on-year basis.

Indonesia logged the highest number of prevented attacks in the region with 19,614,418 incidents, followed by Vietnam with 17,834,312, and Thailand (5,838,460). Malaysia had  3,841,548 local threats and Singapore with 328,844.

Kaspersky reminds businesses that antivirus solutions may no longer be enough to protect their networks these days. The holistic approach to cybersecurity should also include a firewall, anti-rootkit functionality, and control over removable devices.

In case a rogue USB or removable drive infects your systems, Kaspersky experts suggest businesses have a comprehensive defensive concept that equips, informs, and guides their team in their fight against the most sophisticated and targeted cyberattacks like Kaspersky Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platform.