Symantec now says that Thrip is likely another threat group — known Billbug or Lotus Blossom — that has been operating against targets in South Asia for approximately a decade.

When U.S. officials return from international conferences this week they can be thankful for bolstered cybersecurity alliances with two Asian-Pacific countries. The government has struck separate deals with Indonesia and Singapore to strengthen bilateral cooperation on fighting international cybercrime.

Nearly 9,000 computer servers based in southeast Asia are infected with or currently dispensing malware, according to a newly unveiled Interpol-led operation heavily supported by multiple private sector cybersecurity firms and domestic law enforcement agencies. Hundreds of compromised websites popularly used in Southeast Asia, including regional government portals, were also identified as under the control of hackers, Interpol announced Monday.