One-third Indian Internet users malware-affected in July-September: Kaspersky

About one-third of Internet users in the country were attacked by web-borne malicious programmes or malwares during the July-September period this year, a report by security solutions provider Kaspersky has said.

Kaspersky Lab products detected 21,946,308 Internet-borne malware incidents on the computers of participants durign July-September, the report said, adding 33.8 percent of users were attacked by web-borne threats during this period.

These attacks require user participation, with the user having to download the malicious file to their computer. This happens when the cybercriminal tricks the victim into believing they are downloading a legitimate programme, the report said.

Malicious programmes are designed by cyber criminals to steal crucial user data such as banking details.

"This places India in the 18th place worldwide when it comes to the dangers associated with surfing the web," the report said.

About 52 percent of users were attacked by local threats, such as USBs, CDs and and other "offline" methods, during the period. Kaspersky Lab products detected 146,502,614 local malware incidents on the computers of KSN participants in India, it said.

"The threat landscape in the country continues to evolve, with cyber criminals finding innovative tactics and means to attack users," Altaf Halde, Managing Director, Kaspersky Lab - South Asia, said.

The report is based on data obtained and processed using the Kaspersky Security Network (KSN), which is one of Kaspersky Lab's most important technologies.