Security

Family Man is fiction, but India’s spyware threat is real, says Kaspersky

by VARINDIA 2025-12-08

Kaspersky’s latest India Threat Landscape Report for 2025 and 2026 reveals that spyware attacks in the country have surged at a rate far faster than most viewers would expect: a staggering 273% rise in B2B spyware detections year-on-year, underscoring how this threat has silently become one of the most dominant forms of cyber espionage today.

What makes this escalation especially alarming is how closely it mirrors the threat behavior observed by Kaspersky researchers across the country.

Today’s spyware no longer requires advanced exploits or dramatic break-ins. Instead, it embeds itself through malicious mobile apps, routine social engineering, or even year-old unpatched vulnerabilities, techniques that remain highly effective. Once installed, spyware can log keystrokes, capture screens, and track movements with complete invisibility, making it one of the most persistent surveillance tools in circulation. As India’s digital ecosystem expands, attackers are extending their reach using scalable, low-noise techniques that frequently evade traditional detection.

“Spyware is increasingly targeting users and organizations because that’s where the data goldmine lies, from private conversations to sensitive business information. Our data shows attackers are exploiting both new methods and older, unpatched systems, making real-time threat intelligence essential to identify and stop these stealthy surveillance operations,” says Jaydeep Singh, General Manager for India at Kaspersky.

Kaspersky’s research also reveals that spyware rarely works alone. It increasingly appears as part of combined, multi-stage attack chains. Web-based threats grew by 13.7%, and password-stealing trojans rose by 17.7%, suggesting that attackers are using layered techniques to stealcredentials, infiltrate accounts, and expand their access across devices and networks. These interconnected attack patterns reflect a threat environment that is becoming more coordinated, more commercialized, and more capable of long-term stealth.

This convergence of threats highlights a larger shift in India’s cybersecurity landscape: attacks are becoming quieter but more sophisticated, prioritizing persistence and data collection over disruption. With organized cybercrime adopting service-based models and leveraging overlooked vulnerabilities, users face an elevated risk of long-term, undetected compromise. These evolving techniques underscore the need for stronger digital hygiene, timely software updates, and multilayered protection to safeguard personal and organizational data.

Ultimately, the rapid rise of spyware is a reminder of how quickly digital threats can evolve, and how essential proactive cybersecurity has become. As surveillance-driven malware continues to grow in scale and sophistication, individuals and businesses must stay informed, stay protected, and adopt security solutions capable of detecting threats that operate silently in the background.

To avoid falling victim to a scam, Kaspersky advises users to:

● Check the authenticity of websites before entering personal data and only use official webpages to watch or download movies. Double-check URL formats and company name spellings.

● Always choose official and reputable streaming platforms to protect your personal data from theft and misuse.

● Use a reliable security solution that identifies malicious attachments and blocks phishing links. The quality of security solutions' phishing detection is annually evaluated by independent testing labs. For example, in 2025 and 2024, Kaspersky Premium achieved a 93% detection rate with 0 false positives in AV-Comparatives anti-phishing tests, and was awarded the “Approved” certificate.

● Enable multi-factor authentication and monitor accounts: Activate 2FA on Apple ID and financial apps, and regularly review statements for unauthorized activity.