Organizations across Southeast Asia are facing a concerning rise in ransomware attacks, with businesses in the region experiencing an average of 400 attempted attacks per day in 2024, according to international cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.

Ransomware, as the name suggests, is a malicious software designed to block access to a computer system or encrypt its data until a sum of money (a ransom) is paid. These attacks have been carried out on both individuals and corporations.

"With ransomware groups leveraging increasingly sophisticated methods, companies in the region are all feeling the pressure as attackers exploit vulnerabilities in the increasingly complex corporate IT and network infrastructure," said Adrian Hia, managing director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky.

Overall, solutions used in businesses in the region detected and blocked a total of 135,274 ransomware attacks last year. Among the hardest hit were businesses in Indonesia, with 57,554 attacks, followed by Vietnam (29,282), the Philippines (21,629), Thailand (13,958), Malaysia (12,643), and Singapore (208), Kaspersky said.

A separate 2024 report from the nonprofit organization National Cybersecurity Association revealed that 14.6 percent of 5,000 surveyed organizations and businesses in Vietnam had experienced ransomware attacks.

Some of the most severe and prolonged cases included incidents at Petrovietnam Oil Corp, VNDirect, and Vietnam Post.

On April 12, Vietnam-based CMC Corporation confirmed it had fallen victim to a targeted ransomware attack by the cybercriminal group known as Crypto24. The breach is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents that underscore the growing threat of ransomware in the country.

Vu Ngoc Son, head of the Technology Department at the National Cybersecurity Association, compared ransomware attacks to criminals infiltrating and hiding inside a supermarket.

"After months of quiet observation — sometimes up to half a year — attackers know exactly where the valuable assets are, the safe's password, and the access codes. At the right moment, they lock down the entire warehouse, and no one can access the assets inside," he explained.

Once the decryption key is in the hands of attackers, it is only exchanged if the victim agrees to pay a ransom. If the encrypted data hasn't been properly backed up, the only option for the victim is to pay in order to regain access. Ransoms are usually demanded in Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency, making it difficult to trace the perpetrators.

Son said the current landscape highlights the urgent need to raise cybersecurity awareness and invest in modern defence systems.

Hia echoed this, adding that ransomware groups persist in refining their tactics, exploiting known vulnerabilities and leveraging advantages to gain unauthorized access.

"By targeting internet-facing applications, manipulating local accounts, and evading end-point defenses, they demonstrate a sophisticated mastery of network weaknesses. The ongoing threat emphasizes the urgent need for robust cybersecurity defenses, as adversaries continue to innovate and exploit even the most familiar vulnerabilities," Hia added.

To mitigate risks, experts recommend key measures, including disabling unused ports and services, applying regular software updates and patches, conducting frequent vulnerability scans and penetration tests, training employees in cybersecurity best practices, and maintaining up-to-date backups with tested recovery procedures.

Viet Nam News, Vietnam