Vietnam Leads Southeast Asia in Brute-Force Attacks: Warning

Alarm bells are ringing in Vietnam’s cybersecurity landscape: an astounding 19.8 million brute-force attempts targeting RDP servers in 2024, representing 37% of Southeast Asia’s total

Warning: Redflag for the Vietnam's digital landscape

A recent Kaspersky report highlights that Vietnam faced 19.8 million brute-force attempts last year, the highest in Southeast Asia and accounting for over one-third of the region’s total. Across Southeast Asia (SEA), more than 53 million brute-force attacks were blocked, with an average of 145,000 daily attempts targeting business systems.

How does it affect?

Brute-force attacks—systematic trials of password combinations—remain the simplest yet most insidious method for unauthorized access. Without strict login attempt limits or robust multi-factor authentication (MFA), organizations risk catastrophic breaches. Attackers frequently exploit Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to bypass perimeter defenses and gain unauthorized access.

The integration of artificial intelligence exacerbates the danger: current reports show 61% of passwords can be cracked in under 60 seconds, while another 17% fall within 1–60 minutes once AI-driven tools are employed. This rapid escalation, coupled with a severe shortage of cybersecurity professionals in the region, creates a perilous environment for enterprises and end users.

How can we deal with?

Expert Recommendations:

• Disable RDP access when idle and restrict connections via VPN or jump servers.
• Enforce MFA and implement complex, periodically rotated passwords.
• Configure firewalls to limit login attempts, and deploy real-time monitoring for anomalous RDP activity.
• Conduct regular security audits and employee training on phishing resilience.

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