Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has recorded a 28% jump in mobile attacks targeting Filipino consumers over the past year, as smartphones become the go-to device for banking, shopping, and daily communication across the region.
During the first quarter of 2026, the company said it stopped nearly 30,000 mobile threats aimed at Asia-Pacific users. The Philippines was among several markets with notable increases, though other countries saw even bigger spikes. Taiwan led with a 373% rise, followed by Sri Lanka (132%), Thailand (127%), Bangladesh (108%), and China (69%).
Kaspersky also reported 18,187 threats in India and 15,163 in Indonesia, though these numbers appear to exceed the regional total it provided, with no clear explanation given for the mismatch.
The data was shared at Kaspersky’s Cyber Security Weekend event in Guangzhou, China. A separate consumer survey by the firm found that people in Asia-Pacific are more digitally active than the global norm. About 80% of regional respondents buy items online, compared to 71% worldwide, while 72% use digital finance tools, just above the global figure of 70%.
Worry about online crime is also slightly higher in the region, with 35% expressing concern versus 32% globally. Thailand had the highest anxiety level at 39%, followed by Malaysia at 38%, Indonesia at 35%, China at 34%, India at 32%, and Vietnam at 31%.
Instead of leaving protection entirely up to users, Kaspersky encouraged banks and digital service providers to build security features directly into their apps.