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India Is Now Asia-Pacific’s No. 1 Ransomware Target — Nearly 700 Attacks a Day
India is now the most attacked country in the Asia-Pacific region for ransomware. Ransomware is a kind of cyberattack. Criminals lock up a company’s files or computers, then ask for money to unlock them. A security company called Kaspersky says Indian businesses now face nearly 700 of these attacks every single day. Experts say India is an easy target because its online safety is weak and many of its computer systems are old.
How bad it has become
The news site Financial Express says recent attacks on big companies like Tata Electronics and Bajaj Auto have made people pay attention. One big reason is something called “ransomware-as-a-service”, or RaaS. Think of it like renting software, but for crime. Criminal groups build ready-made attack tools and rent them out to other criminals. This makes it cheap and simple, so even people with little skill can attack.
The numbers are scary. A report by Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs (CRIL) says ransomware was 45% of all cyberattacks in India from January to March 2026. That is a 165% jump from the same three months last year. It is also a 55% rise from the three months before. Another cyber company, CloudSEK, also says India was the most attacked country in Asia-Pacific.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Attacks per day | Nearly 700 on Indian businesses (Kaspersky) |
| India’s rank | Most targeted in Asia-Pacific (CloudSEK) |
| Ransomware share | 45% of India’s cyber incidents in Q1 2026 (Cyble/CRIL) |
| Year-on-year rise | Up 165% vs the same quarter last year |
| Most hit sectors | Manufacturing, IT/ITeS, banking and finance, healthcare, education, automotive |
| Active groups | RaaS gangs like Akira and Qilin |
Why India is being hit so hard
Experts say three things are happening at once. First, there are weak spots in the systems. Many Indian companies still use very old computer systems. They also use old machines that run factories, like SCADA and PLC controls (these are computers that run factory equipment) and IoT devices. IoT means everyday things, like cameras or sensors, that are joined to the internet. These old systems were never built to fight today’s attacks.
Second, many companies are simply not ready. They cannot act fast when an attack happens. Third, crime has become cheap. The RaaS rent-a-tool model lets criminals attack many targets quickly without spending much money.
“India has gone from a secondary target to APAC’s ransomware epicentre in under two years,” said Koushik Pal, a threat researcher at CloudSEK. In simple words, he means India went from being a small target to the worst-hit country in the region in less than two years. He named gangs like Akira and Qilin that see Indian companies as big prizes. The areas hit most are factories (manufacturing), IT services, banking and finance, healthcare, education, and the car industry.
The fast-tech double edge
Here is the sad twist. India added new technology very fast, like cloud computing (storing data and running programs on the internet instead of your own computer), AI, and IoT. This helped India grow. But it also made the “attack surface” bigger. Attack surface just means all the doors and windows a hacker can try to get in through. More technology means more doors. When new tech is added on top of old, unsafe systems, the gaps grow. This same fast-tech race is changing business all over the world, as we see in stories like the AI spending and disruption fears hitting big tech.
Why it matters (especially for India and founders)
If you run a business, this is a clear warning. (A founder is a person who starts a company.) One ransomware attack can stop all your work. It can leak your customers’ private details. It can cost you money and make people stop trusting you. You do not need to be huge like Tata to be attacked. Small and mid-size companies are often easier targets. The simple steps help the most. Keep your software updated. Save safe copies of your data (this is called a backup). Teach your staff to spot fake or scam emails. And have a clear plan ready in case you are attacked. In today’s digital India, staying safe online is a basic business skill, not just a job for the IT team.
FAQ
What is ransomware? It is a cyberattack that locks your files or systems. Criminals then ask for money to give your access back.
Why is India the top target in Asia-Pacific? Because of old, unsafe systems, companies not being ready, and cheap rent-a-tool “ransomware-as-a-service” kits for attackers.
How many attacks happen daily? Indian businesses face nearly 700 ransomware attacks a day, says Kaspersky.
The takeaway
India is now the biggest ransomware target in Asia-Pacific. It faces nearly 700 attacks a day, and attacks are up 165% from last year. The causes are old systems, companies not being ready, and cheap criminal tools. For every Indian business, basic online safety is no longer a choice — it is a must.
Source: Financial Express.
