Singapore has experienced a significant increase in on-device threats, with over 3.8 million incidents recorded in 2025, according to Kaspersky. This marks a 16.2% rise from the previous year, primarily driven by worms and file viruses. The surge underscores the growing risk posed by infected removable devices to both individuals and organisations in Singapore.
Despite assumptions that on-device threats might be declining in a cloud-centric environment, Kaspersky’s data reveals their persistent prevalence. In 2025, 3.8 million threats were detected on Singapore-based devices, largely spread through removable media like USB drives, CDs, and DVDs. These threats can execute automatically, bypassing traditional defences and compromising sensitive information.
Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, noted the underestimated vulnerability to on-device attacks, emphasising the trust Singaporeans place in removable media. “Most users rarely second-guess plugging in an external device despite the fact that such on-device infections remain a very real threat,” he stated.
Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company, continues to innovate in protecting over a billion devices worldwide. As on-device threats rise, the importance of effective cybersecurity measures becomes increasingly critical for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining organisational integrity.
