Cybersecurity in Nepal: Top Threats Businesses Must Prepare for in 2025

Introduction: The Digital Reality of Nepal in 2025

If you are reading this, you likely remember a time when “hacking” in Nepal was something we only saw in Hollywood movies. That era is over.

As we close out 2025, the digital landscape of Nepal has transformed. We are no longer just a cash-based economy; we are a digital-first nation. From buying vegetables with Fonepay to renewing our licenses online, our lives are on the cloud. But this rapid digitization has come at a steep price.

According to recent data from the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau, cybercrime cases in Nepal have surged over eightfold in the last five years, peaking at nearly 20,000 reported cases in the last fiscal year alone. The threats are no longer just “nuisances”—they are business-ending events.

In this comprehensive guide, we are going to break down the specific, high-risk threats targeting Nepali businesses in 2025, analyze the new legal frameworks like the E-Commerce Act 2081, and provide a battle-tested roadmap to secure your organization.

The State of Cybercrime in Nepal (2025 Analysis)

Before we look at how to defend, we must understand what we are fighting. The 2025 threat landscape in Nepal is defined by what experts call “Leapfrog Vulnerability.”

What is Leapfrog Vulnerability?

It is when a developing nation adopts advanced technology (like AI, 5G, and Cloud Computing) faster than it adopts the security policies to protect them.

• Financial Fraud Explosion: In Kathmandu Valley alone, online fraud amounted to over NPR 378.5 million in the latter half of 2024.
• Platform Dominance: Social media remains the primary attack vector, with Facebook and Messenger-based scams accounting for over 72% of all reported incidents.
• The “Trusted” Gap: Nepali users are historically trusting. Attackers are exploiting this cultural trait using sophisticated social engineering that bypasses traditional firewalls.

7 Critical Cybersecurity Threats for Nepali Businesses in 2025

Based on our analysis at CyberSamir and data from the Cyber Bureau, these are the top threats you must prepare for immediately.

1. Ransomware 2.0: Targeted “Double Extortion”

Gone are the days when ransomware just locked your files. In 2025, attackers are using “Double Extortion.” They steal your data first, then lock your computers. If you refuse to pay the ransom to unlock the files, they threaten to leak your customer data publicly.

• Who is at risk? Hospitals, Financial Cooperatives, and “A” Class Commercial Banks.
• The Nepal Context: With the recent Healthcare Sector attacks globally in late 2024, Nepali hospitals using outdated Hospital Management Systems (HMS) are prime targets.
• Defense: Offline backups are no longer enough. You need Data Loss Prevention (DLP) strategies to ensure data cannot leave your network in the first place.

2. AI-Powered Phishing and “Deepfakes”

This is the most terrifying evolution we have seen this year. Attackers are using Artificial Intelligence to create perfect Nepali-language phishing emails. They no longer have grammar mistakes or “broken” English.

Even worse is the rise of Deepfake CEO Fraud.

Imagine your Finance Head receiving a voice note on WhatsApp from “you” (the CEO), asking for an urgent transfer of NPR 5 Lakhs to a vendor. The voice sounds exactly like you. The tone is urgent. The transfer happens. The money is gone.

• The Reality: We are seeing tools that can clone a voice from just 3 seconds of audio. If you have public interviews on YouTube, your voice can be cloned.

3. The “Viral Video” Malware Traps

A specific trend in late 2025 has been the weaponization of viral content. Attackers monitor Nepali social media for trending topics (e.g., a viral scandal or a leaked video). They then flood search results with “Full Video Link” buttons that actually download InfoStealer malware.

Once installed on an office laptop, these stealers grab saved passwords from Chrome/Edge giving hackers access to your corporate email, banking, and cloud storage instantly.

4. API Vulnerabilities in Fintech

Nepal’s Fintech sector is booming. But many digital wallets and payment gateways are built on APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that are not properly secured.

• Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA): This is the #1 API vulnerability. It allows User A to manipulate the URL and see User B’s transaction history.
• The Risk: For Fintech companies, this doesn’t just mean money loss; it means a total loss of trust and license revocation by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

5. Supply Chain Attacks

You might be secure, but what about your vendor?

Many Nepali businesses use third-party IT support or cracked software vendors. If your IT support company gets hacked, the attackers can use their remote access tools to enter your network.

• Red Flag: If your IT vendor asks to install “AnyDesk” or “TeamViewer” with permanent access, you are leaving a back door open.

6. Insider Threats (The Unhappy Employee)

With the economic fluctuations in 2025, job security has been volatile. Disgruntled employees or those being bribed by competitors are a massive risk.

• Data Theft: Employees copying customer databases to Google Drive before resigning.
• Logic Bombs: IT staff leaving malicious code that deletes servers after they leave the company.

7. Social Engineering via ISP/Utility Impersonation

Attackers are now calling businesses pretending to be from major ISPs (WorldLink, Vianet) or the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). They claim “your KYC is pending” or “your internet will be cut off,” tricking staff into handing over OTPs.

The Regulatory Shift: New Laws You Must Know

2025 is a landmark year for Cyber Law in Nepal. Ignorance is no longer a legal defense.

The Electronic Commerce Act, 2081 (2025)

This Act has changed the game for online businesses.

1. Mandatory Registration: Every e-commerce entity must be listed in the government portal.
2. Data Privacy: You are legally responsible for the privacy of your customer’s data. If you leak data, you face heavy fines and potential jail time.
3. Platform Liability: If you run a marketplace, you are liable for the vendors on your platform.

NRB Cybersecurity Guidelines (Updated July 2025)

For BFIs (Banks and Financial Institutions), the Nepal Rastra Bank has introduced strict new measures:

• Mandatory CISO: Appointment of a Chief Information Security Officer is non-negotiable.
• 24/7 SOC: You must have a Security Operations Center monitoring threats around the clock.
• Incident Reporting: Major breaches must be reported to the NRB within hours, not days.

The CyberSamir Defense Strategy: How to Protect Your Business

Knowing the threats is half the battle. Here is the CyberSamir Action Plan to secure your organization in 2025.

Step 1: The “Human Firewall” (Training)

Technology fails; people fail more.

• Conduct Phishing Simulations monthly. Send fake phishing emails to your staff and see who clicks.
• CyberSamir Training: We offer specialized workshops for non-technical staff to recognize AI voice scams and social engineering.

Step 2: Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing (VAPT)

You cannot fix what you cannot find.

• Schedule a Pentest: Have ethical hackers (like our team) try to break into your system legally.
• Frequency: At least once every 6 months, or whenever you update your software.

Step 3: Implement “Zero Trust”

Stop trusting devices just because they are in your office.

• MFA Everywhere: Multi-Factor Authentication (OTP/Authenticator App) should be mandatory for Email, Cloud, and VPN access.
• Least Privilege: Your marketing intern does not need access to the financial database. Give employees only the access they strictly need.

Step 4: Secure Your Backups

Ransomware is useless if you have good backups.

• Follow the 3-2-1 Rule: Keep 3 copies of data, on 2 different media types, with 1 copy offline (disconnected from the internet).

Step 5: Get Legal & Compliant

• Review your compliance with the E-Commerce Act 2081.
• Draft a clear Privacy Policy for your website.
• Ensure your IT contracts have “Non-Disclosure Agreements” (NDAs) and liability clauses.

Conclusion: Security is an Investment, Not an Expense

In 2025, a cyberattack is not a matter of “if,” but “when.” The businesses that survive will be the ones that prepared today.

At CyberSamir, we don’t just fix computers; we build resilient digital fortresses. Whether you need a compliance audit, a penetration test, or a comprehensive security awareness session for your team, we are your partners in digital defense.

Don’t wait for the breach.

Ready to Secure Your Business?

• Contact us: https://cybersamir.com/contact-us/
• Services: https://cybersamir.com/our-services/

References:

• Nepal Police Cyber Bureau Annual Report (Fiscal Year 2024/25)
• Electronic Commerce Act, 2081 (Nepal)
• Nepal Rastra Bank IT Guidelines (July 2025 Update)