Despite rising awareness around cybersecurity, nearly 18% of Indian PC users encountered offline, on-device threats in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from Kaspersky. These threats—originating from USB drives, CDs, and other removable media—continue to pose a major risk, even as digital protections against online threats improve.
The cybersecurity firm reported detecting 11,692,851 offline threat incidents in India between January and March 2025. Worms, file viruses, and other malware delivered through physical media were among the most common attack types, revealing persistent gaps in endpoint protection and user security practices.
Offline threats bypass traditional defenses
Kaspersky’s findings suggest that offline threats are frequently overlooked, yet remain highly effective. These on-device infections can bypass standard antivirus tools, especially when systems lack firewall controls, rootkit detection, or policies to manage external device access. The prevalence of threats spread via removable media indicates that many users may be relying solely on basic security software, leaving them vulnerable to legacy infection techniques.
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The company attributes these figures to data collected through the Kaspersky Security Network (KSN), which compiles anonymized telemetry from millions of voluntary users. The data is featured in the latest edition of the Kaspersky Security Bulletin, offering a snapshot of cybersecurity trends specific to the Indian user base.
Cybersecurity awareness boosted through IPL partnership
To drive awareness and improve cyber hygiene, Kaspersky has extended its partnership with the Mumbai Indians as the official cybersecurity partner for the 2025 IPL season. The collaboration will include consumer-facing campaigns, bundled subscription offers, and public education initiatives on secure digital behavior.
The continued dominance of removable media threats highlights the need for broader user education and more comprehensive endpoint protection strategies that go beyond antivirus software to address modern and legacy attack vectors alike.
