More Malaysian SMBs Hit by Ransomware as Threat Persists Across Southeast Asi

Ransomware continues to pose a persistent threat to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across Southeast Asia, according to the latest findings from Kaspersky.

In Malaysia, 2.74% of SMBs were targeted by ransomware in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 2.09% during the same period last year.Across Southeast Asia, 3.51% of SMBs experienced ransomware attacks in Q1 2026, compared to 2.92% a year earlier.

Kaspersky warns that the actual scale of ransomware is likely much higher, as detection statistics only capture the final encryption stage of the multi-stage attacks, where the encrypted Trojan is deployed. Earlier stages such as initial access and lateral movement often go undetected.

As ransomware groups continue to adopt more sophisticated tactics and increasingly target SMBs as gateways into broader supply chains, the findings highlight the need for local organisations to strengthen their cyber resilience against evolving threats in the digital space.