Kaspersky’s detection systems discovered an average of 467,000 malicious files per day in 2024, marking a 14% increase compared to the previous year. Certain types of threats saw significant growth with experts reporting a 33% surge in Trojan detections compared to 2023. These and other findings are described in the Kaspersky Security Bulletin (KSB) – an annual series of reports analyzing major developments in the cybersecurity landscape.
Windows continued to be the primary target for cyberattacks, accounting for 93% of all malware-filled data detected daily. Malicious families disseminated through various scripts and different MS Office document formats ranked among the top three threats, accounting for 6% of all malicious files detected daily.
Average daily number of malicious files detected by Kaspersky security solutions from 2021 to 2024 (1st January – 31st October)
Kaspersky’s detection systems discovered a significant increase in Windows malware – 19% from 2023 to 2024. The most widespread type of malware continues to be Trojans – malicious programs that disguise themselves as legitimate software – with a surge of 33% from 2023 to 2024. There has also been a 2.5-fold (150%) increase in the use of Trojan-droppers – programs designed to deliver other malware to a victim’s computer or phone without the victim noticing.
“The number of new threats grows every year as adversaries continue to develop new malware, techniques and methods to attack users and organizations. This year was no exception to this, and there were dangerous trends observed, such as attacks on trusted relationships and supply chains, including those on open-source packages (e.g., the XZ case). There were massive phishing and malicious campaigns targeting social media users and a rise in banking malware. And, of course, the use of AI tools to generate new malware or facilitate phishing attacks. In this evolving cyber threat landscape, the use of reliable security solutions is vital. Kaspersky experts are always dedicated to countering new and challenging cyberthreats, ensuring a secure online experience for users as well as robust cybersecurity and the latest threat intelligence for organizations,” comments Vladimir Kuskov, Head of Anti-Malware Research at Kaspersky.
These discoveries are baÂsed on Kaspersky detections of malicious files from January to October and are part of Kaspersky Security Bulletin (KSB) – an annual series of predictions and analytical reports on key shifts within the cybersecurity world. Follow this link to learn more about cyberthreat statistics for 2024.
