Brazil experienced a high threat of malware in the first half of 2024, according to a survey.

Acronis, a cybersecurity company, released its latest Cybersecurity Threat Report for the first half of 2024, which revealed a significant increase in malware threats in Brazil. According to the semiannual report, the country consistently registered high percentages of normalized malware detections.

This growth has made the country the second-largest target for criminals using this type of cyber threat, second only to the US.

• January 2024: 22,6%
• February 2024: 23,3%
• March 2024: 31,1%
• April 2024: 31,7%
• May 2024: 28,0%

Brazil also ranked 4th among the top 15 countries – where Acronis has a presence – in terms of blocked URLs, with 21.8% of them blocked in April 2024 alone.

“The rising malware detection rates in Brazil are a clear sign that organizations need to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses,” said Gaidar Magdanurov, President of Acronis. “The report emphasizes the importance of security awareness training and consolidating solutions for effective cyber resilience. Educating employees on cybersecurity best practices and investing in integrated security measures, such as Acronis XDR, can significantly increase protection and reduce costs,” he added.

Based on data collected from over 1,000,000 unique endpoints globally, the report made it clear that the high malware detection rates in Brazil indicate a cybersecurity deficit in the country and that there is an urgent need to create more effective barriers and measures to address these attacks.

Detailed Overview of Cyber Threat Trends

• Rise in ransomwareWith a 231% increase in cases, ransomware remains a major threat to small and medium-sized enterprises, including critical sectors such as government and healthcare.
• Email attacksCompared to the first half of 2023, email attacks increased an incredible 293%. This highlights the need for advanced email security solutions to protect against phishing and malware.
• Use of AI in CyberattacksAlthough artificial intelligence hasn't taken over the entire cyberattack chain, its use in creating sophisticated and customized malware is increasingly prevalent.
• Short-lived malwareThe average lifespan of a malware sample up to June 2024 was only 2.3 days, highlighting the rapidly evolving nature of cyber threats.