Kaspersky is calling for more security to be built directly into mobile applications as consumers across Asia Pacific adopt digital services at a faster rate than the global average and mobile cyber threats continue to rise across several regional markets.
According to Kaspersky’s latest B2C Pulse Survey, consumers in Asia Pacific are ahead of global averages in online shopping, digital finance, entertainment and digital communication, while also showing greater awareness of the risks associated with cybercrime.
The cybersecurity company said the shift toward a mobile-first digital economy is increasing the need for banks, retailers, government agencies and application developers to integrate security into the services consumers use every day rather than relying solely on users to install separate security tools.
Asia Pacific consumers lead in digital service usage
Kaspersky’s survey found that 80% of consumers in Asia Pacific use online shopping services, compared with 71% globally.
Digital finance usage reached 72% in the region against a global average of 70%, while digital entertainment stood at 70% compared with 62% worldwide.
Digital communication usage was also higher, at 68% in Asia Pacific versus 61% globally.
The findings were presented during Kaspersky’s Asia Pacific Cyber Security Weekend in Guangzhou, China.
Consumers in the region also showed slightly higher concern about the use of digital technologies for criminal activity, with 35% expressing concern compared with 32% globally.
Awareness was highest in Thailand at 39%, followed by Malaysia at 38%, Indonesia at 35%, China at 34%, India at 32% and Vietnam at 31%.
Mobile threats accelerate across several regional markets
Kaspersky said it blocked nearly 30,000 mobile attacks against consumers in Asia Pacific during the first quarter of 2026, highlighting the risks accompanying the region’s rapid shift toward mobile services.
The company also reported sharp year-on-year increases in several markets.
Taiwan recorded the largest increase at 373%, followed by Sri Lanka at 132%, Thailand at 127%, Bangladesh at 108%, China at 69% and the Philippines at 28%.
Kaspersky separately reported 18,187 mobile attacks in India and 15,163 in Indonesia, the highest individual volumes cited in the source material.
Those country figures together exceed the stated regional total of “nearly 30,000”, so the figures should be treated as reported by Kaspersky rather than as internally reconciled data.
Choon Hong Chee, Kaspersky’s head of consumer channel for Asia Pacific, said mobile phones increasingly act as the gateway to financial, social and professional services but are often not protected to the same level as PCs.
He said mobile security needs to evolve at the same pace as user adoption.
Embedded security moves closer to the application layer
Kaspersky is advocating an embedded security model in which protection is integrated directly into mobile applications.
Its Mobile Security SDK allows organisations including banks, retailers, government services and application developers to add security capabilities directly into their apps.
The toolkit includes anti-phishing and malware detection, secure connectivity, device reputation checks, data protection and detection of remote access tools.
It can also generate warnings when threats such as financial Trojans, password stealers or phishing malware are detected on a device.
The approach is designed to reduce dependence on consumers independently installing, configuring and maintaining separate mobile security applications.
Banks and digital services become key security targets
The case for embedded protection is becoming stronger as smartphones increasingly serve as the primary interface for banking, payments, shopping and government services.
Chee said 77% of Asia Pacific is online and digital wallets account for around 70% of online payments, while the region is expected to reach 2.11 billion mobile subscribers by 2030.
That concentration of financial and personal activity on mobile devices raises the potential impact of compromised applications, phishing attacks and malicious software.
For banks and other digital service providers, integrating security into the application layer can provide another line of defence even when the underlying device is not protected by dedicated consumer security software.
Kaspersky expands protection beyond mobile applications
Kaspersky also highlighted additional tools aimed at telecom operators and digital service providers.
Its Who Calls SDK allows organisations to integrate caller identification and reputation information into applications, helping users identify potentially suspicious or unwanted phone numbers.
Kaspersky Safe Web provides another layer of protection through network-based DNS filtering.
The agentless service is designed for broadband and mobile internet providers and can help identify malicious or phishing websites before users access them.
Together, the products reflect a broader shift toward distributing security across applications, networks and service platforms rather than treating protection solely as an endpoint responsibility.
Source: MEA Tech Watch Press Reporter
