What if the most unsettling moments in The Family Man’s latest spyware-themed storyline were not fictional exaggerations—but reflections of real-world cyber threats? From unexplained phone shutdowns to invisible surveillance and real-time location tracking, the techniques portrayed in the popular series closely resemble the methods used by modern spyware attacks in India today: silent, persistent, and highly effective.
According to Kaspersky’s India Threat Landscape Report for 2025–2026, spyware has emerged as one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity threats in the country. The report reveals a 273% year-on-year increase in B2B spyware detections, highlighting how cyber espionage has quietly become a dominant tactic for cybercriminals targeting businesses, professionals, and digital ecosystems across India.
What makes this surge particularly concerning is how closely it aligns with real threat behaviors observed by Kaspersky researchers nationwide. Unlike traditional malware, today’s spyware does not rely on dramatic hacks or complex exploits. Instead, it infiltrates devices through malicious mobile applications, social engineering attacks, and unpatched software vulnerabilities—many of which are months or even years old but remain dangerously exploitable.
Once installed, spyware can log keystrokes, capture screenshots, monitor communications, and track physical movements without alerting the victim. As India’s digital footprint expands across smartphones, cloud services, and enterprise networks, cybercriminals are increasingly deploying low-noise, scalable spyware techniques designed to evade conventional security detection.
“Spyware is increasingly targeting individuals and organizations because that’s where the real data value lies—from private conversations to sensitive business intelligence. Our findings show that attackers are exploiting both new attack methods and older, unpatched systems, making real-time threat intelligence critical to detecting and disrupting these stealthy surveillance campaigns,” said Jaydeep Singh, General Manager for India at Kaspersky.
Kaspersky’s research further indicates that spyware attacks rarely operate in isolation. Instead, they are now embedded within multi-stage cyberattack chains. During the same reporting period, web-based threats increased by 13.7%, while password-stealing trojans rose by 17.7%, suggesting that attackers are combining spyware with credential theft and account compromise to expand access across multiple devices and networks.
This convergence of threats signals a broader shift in India’s cybersecurity landscape. Modern cyberattacks are becoming less disruptive but more strategic, prioritizing long-term persistence, data harvesting, and covert surveillance over immediate damage. With organized cybercrime groups adopting cybercrime-as-a-service models and exploiting overlooked security gaps, the risk of prolonged, undetected compromise is significantly higher for both individuals and enterprises.
The rapid rise of spyware serves as a stark reminder that digital threats are evolving faster than awareness. As surveillance-driven malware becomes more sophisticated and widespread, proactive cybersecurity measures are no longer optional. Businesses and consumers alike must prioritize software updates, strong digital hygiene, and advanced security solutions capable of detecting threats that operate silently in the background.
How to Protect Yourself from Spyware and Online Scams
To reduce the risk of spyware infection and data theft, Kaspersky recommends the following cybersecurity best practices:
- Verify website authenticity before entering personal or financial information. Only use official websites for streaming, downloads, and online services. Carefully check URLs and brand spellings.
- Choose reputable and official streaming platforms to minimize the risk of malicious ads, fake apps, and data misuse.
- Install a trusted security solution that detects malicious attachments and blocks phishing links. Independent testing labs regularly evaluate phishing protection—Kaspersky Premium achieved a 93% detection rate with zero false positives in AV-Comparatives anti-phishing tests in 2024 and 2025, earning the “Approved” certification.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on Apple ID, financial apps, and email accounts, and regularly monitor account activity for unauthorized access.
As spyware continues to blur the line between fiction and reality, staying informed and protected remains the most effective defense against silent digital surveillance.
