"2025 may signal a pivotal moment in the battle against mobile scams"

In a bid to tackle the growing issue of cyber fraud, Russia has taken unprecedented measures this year. The Russian government, in collaboration with state-owned banking giant Sber, is focusing on protecting legal entities from cyber threats.

The State Duma passed a large package of bills in the first wave to establish rules for combating cyber fraud. This was followed by another package of bills submitted by the Russian government as part of the second wave. The state and the government are taking all necessary measures to combat telephone fraud, and by the end of 2025, there is a good reason to believe that a turning point in combating telephone fraud will be reached.

Sber, a key player in Russia's anti-cyber fraud measures, has implemented the "Antifraud" platform, a comprehensive technological solution to protect clients from cyber fraud. This platform, now available to all Russian companies, has already been joined by over 100 companies. Sber's team employs advanced security technologies such as data encryption, regular system audits, and the use of SSL certificates to secure online transactions. However, there is no explicit information indicating that Sber offers free access to specific technologies to support the public sector or businesses in improving security.

In addition to the "Antifraud" platform, Sber has developed large-scale platform solutions for countering cyber threats. These solutions aggregate any available knowledge to protect clients and learn about new cyber threats and fraudster strategies within a maximum of two hours. The multi-layered protection system takes countermeasures in an automated manner and configures systems to protect clients.

The team focused on protecting Sber clients has set an ambitious goal to reduce financial losses to zero by the end of the year. Despite the decrease in the number of calls, the number of prevented fraud remains roughly the same, indicating that fraudsters have found ways to switch to other channels and develop new scenarios. The number of such attacks in Russia has increased by at least 3-3.5 times, resulting in significant losses for businesses.

Two common scenarios for hacking medium-sized Russian companies or state institutions are DDoS attacks and sudden increases in malicious software installations. To combat these threats, Sber's solutions provide companies with an understanding of their cyber risks and recommendations for protection from new threats.

International cooperation becomes crucial due to the borderless nature of the cybercriminal world and the use of new technologies like AI. Recognising this, Sber is committed to working with international partners to combat cyber fraud on a global scale.

In August, restrictions on calls in foreign messengers were introduced, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of calls. While this move has helped in reducing the number of cyber attacks, it also highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to combating cyber fraud, involving not just technological solutions but also legislative measures and international cooperation.

Social engineering and cyber fraud against individuals in Russia is estimated to reach almost 300 billion rubles a year. As the battle against cyber fraud continues, it is clear that Russia is taking significant steps to protect its citizens and businesses from this growing threat.