Chinese Cyberattacks on Taiwan Doubled in 2024

Taiwan’s National Security Bureau released a report on January 6, 2024, detailing the cyberattacks targeting the country in 2024. The number of attacks doubled compared to 2023, averaging 2.4 million daily attempts, most of which were attributed to the People’s Republic of China.

“While many of these attacks were effectively detected and blocked, the growing number highlights the increasingly severe nature of China’s hacking activities against Taiwan,” the report stated. The National Security Bureau emphasized that the majority of Chinese cyber offensives were relatively simple DDoS attacks that did not lead to intrusions.

However, the report documented 906 confirmed breaches of information systems belonging to Taiwanese government agencies and private sector entities—a 20% increase from the 752 cases reported in 2023. The Bureau also provided a breakdown of the most problematic attack types.

Cybercriminals affiliated with Beijing exploited vulnerabilities in government Netcom devices to steal data. Social engineering campaigns also targeted numerous Taiwanese officials with access to sensitive services. Additionally, hackers sought to install Trojans and backdoors in information systems tied to critical infrastructure, including highways and airports.