‘Banking trojan attacks sharply increased in 2018’.

Kaspersky Lab warns of the rise of banking trojans, or bankers. According to the Russian security company, the spread of this malware has increased considerably over the past year. According to the company, a total of almost 900,000 took place in 2018, with fifteen percent more than a year earlier. Then 767,000 banking trojan attacks were detected.

According to Kaspersky, the increase in the number of attacks was almost entirely due to the increased activity of one banker. Of the 889,452 attacks that Kaspersky recorded, roughly a quarter were targeted at companies. This is a fact that, according to Kaspersky, has remained fairly constant over the past three years.

Aimed at Russia

Most of the attacks targeted Russia in 2018. More than a fifth of all attacks with banking trojans (22 percent) were directed at companies and individuals in that country. Germany ranks second with a 20% share and India third with 4%. Other countries that have been hit hard by such attacks include Vietnam, Italy, the United States and China.

In a statement David Emm, Principal Investigator at Kaspersky Lab, says that 2018 was by no means a quieter year when it comes to financial attacks and threats, and that this probably also applies to 2019. Our research shows that the number of attacks with banking trojans is still increasing, according to Emm. Especially the number of attacks that took place with the RTM-trojan increased explosively, which increased the number of attacks last year.

Remain vigilant

Emm therefore advises people to be vigilant when carrying out financial transactions on their computers. Never underestimate how professional modern cybercriminals are and never leave your computer unprotected. The latter is one of the biggest mistakes some people make. According to Emm, every device, whether it’s a laptop, smartphone or tablet, deserves the same security.

In the report, Kaspersky warns that people should never just leave their credit card details on websites. Also, people should always provide their device with the necessary antivirus software. Companies must continue to train their staff and invest in new security techniques.