Taiwan raises alarm over increasing Chinese cyberattacks

台灣面對中國日益增加的網路攻擊而發出警報

Chinese cyberattacks against Taiwan doubled last year: Report


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Most of the cyberattacks targeting Taiwan in 2024 were attributed to China, the National Security Bureau (NSB) revealed in a report released on Sunday.

The NSB reported that Taiwan’s government networks faced an average of 2.4 million cyberattacks per day in 2024, more than double the 1.2 million daily average in 2023. Over 80% of these attacks targeted government agencies.

According to the report, Chinese cyber forces employed "Living off-the-Land" techniques to evade detection and carried out social engineering attacks on public officials’ email accounts to steal sensitive information. The attacks included advanced persistent threats (APTs), phishing emails, and Trojan viruses, which targeted critical infrastructure and disrupted transportation systems. Personal data of Taiwanese citizens was also stolen and sold on the dark web and hacker forums.

The report further indicated that China collaborated with private hacker organizations to steal intellectual property from global high-tech startups for economic gain.

In response to the escalating threats, Taiwan has activated a coordinated cybersecurity defense mechanism to counter Chinese cyberattacks. This includes leveraging a wide range of intelligence sources to enhance threat detection capabilities. Relevant departments are alerted in real time for immediate action, the NSB said.

The NSB urged the public to prioritize cybersecurity and remain vigilant against the growing risks posed by Chinese cyberattacks.