A surge in ransomware attacks, leaks, and information stealers riddle the security posture of the Asia Pacific region, according to Group-IB’s Hi-Tech Crime Trends 23/24 report.
Cybersecurity challenges in APAC
The report revealed that ransomware attacks in APAC have risen to 39%, affecting the manufacturing and real estate industries. APAC is also a prime target for APT groups, with 34% of global attacks directed at the region, partly attributed to advanced financial technology and geopolitical tensions.
The first iOS trojan harvesting biometric data, named GoldPickaxe.iOS, is also targeting users in Thailand and Vietnam by creating deepfakes from exploited data. The report also revealed 338 new instances of data leakage in the region, with over 412 million strings of compromised user data, with the most targeted countries being India, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Moreover, there were nearly 400,000 unique infected hosts in APAC listed on Underground Clouds of Logs (UCL), logging a 23% increase and predominantly targeting India and Vietnam.
AI as backdrop
Dmitry Volkov, the CEO at Group-IB, posits that the rise of artificial intelligence comes with the potential for increasingly sophisticated attacks.
“This, along with cybercriminals’ increased interest in malware designed for macOS, demonstrates that organisations must recognise and address this evolving threat landscape, safeguarding sensitive information and fortifying cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks posed by AI-driven cybercrime,” Volkov said.