Cyber criminals seen focusing on SE Asia

Southeast Asia will be one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to “cyber-attacks,” with criminals taking advantage of rising incomes and growing online banking activities in countries like the Philippines.

In its latest report, Russian Internet security firm Kaspersky Labs said attacks on online banking systems would be one of the most widespread methods of stealing money from Internet users, especially those in mid-income levels.

“In the near future, it is likely that there will be more cases of unauthorized access to online banking systems in Asian countries,” Kaspersky said in its 2012 Cyberthreat Forecast report.

“That is because these services are rapidly developing in Southeast Asia and China, while the region’s abundant cyber-crime expertise has so far been focused on other types of attacks,” the firm added.

Over the past year, Kaspersky said Asian cyber criminals have gained a reputation for targeting clients of US and Europe-based banks that have operations in the region.

But as online transactions and mobile banking gain steam in the region, criminals are expected to shift their focus toward lenders in the region.

“Now that local e-payment and banking services are developing in line with the rising standards of living in Asian countries, there will be an ever increasing number of attacks performed on local banks and users,” the report said.

Kaspersky noted that attacks in the region had been rising, despite steps by banks to heighten security measures. The company added that attacks would target transactions made on personal computers and mobile devices alike.

The most popular attack on mobile banking customers uses a method called “phishing.”

Aside from Southeast Asia, Kaspersky said China and East Africa were also facing heightened levels of risk.

Kaspersky also warned of increased Internet attacks against government agencies by so-called hacker-activists, or “hacktivists.”

The trend, which started in the US and Europe, has spread to other regions in the world, Kaspersky said.