Surge in cybercrime shadows SL’s tech leap

As Sri Lanka advances its digital transformation agenda, the nation is confronting a rapidly escalating wave of cyber threats, said a release.

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The latest cybersecurity data from Kaspersky reveals a concerning surge in malware infections and phishing attacks, putting individuals, businesses, and public sector entities at significant risk.

Globally, Kaspersky blocked over 302 million malware attacks in 2024 alone, while unique malicious web objects detected rose to more than 72 million. Phishing attacks, which trick users into disclosing sensitive information, increased by 26% compared to the previous year. Alarmingly, phishing attacks exploiting financial services and cryptocurrency themes surged by 83.4%.

Sam Yan, Head of Sales for Asia Emerging Countries at Kaspersky, notes, “The trends we see globally are increasingly reflected in Sri Lanka’s digital environment. Phishing attacks have evolved beyond simple email scams to sophisticated social engineering tactics that prey on users’ trust and lack of cybersecurity awareness. Many Sri Lankan organisa-tions and everyday users remain vulnerable due to limited security education and outdated defence systems.”