Sri Lanka recorded nearly 15 million local malware incidents in 2025, with more than a third of users affected by threats spread through offline methods such as USB drives and removable media, according to Kaspersky.
Data from the Kaspersky Security Network showed 14,960,244 local malware incidents between January and December 2025, with 37.4% of users in Sri Lanka targeted by threats spread through removable devices including USB drives, CDs, and DVDs. Sri Lanka ranked 48th globally for local threat exposure.
Kaspersky said worms and file viruses accounted for the majority of infections, often spreading silently across systems through compromised removable media, particularly in workplaces and educational institutions where shared devices remain common.
“Local threats continue to pose a persistent risk to users in Sri Lanka,” said Sam Yan, Head of Sales for Asia Emerging Countries at Kaspersky, noting that offline infection methods remain a critical vulnerability despite growing attention on internet-based attacks.
Globally, Kaspersky detected an average of 500,000 malicious files daily in 2025, a 7% increase from 2024, while password-stealing malware rose by 59% and spyware detections increased by 51%.
Kaspersky urged users and organisations in Sri Lanka to avoid unknown USB devices, keep software updated, and adopt stronger cybersecurity measures to prevent offline malware threats. (Newswire)