Major Cybersecurity Incidents in Taiwan: Case Analysis, Lessons, and Protection Recommendations

Other people's cybersecurity incidents are your cheapest lessons.

Taiwan experiences a massive number of cybersecurity incidents every year. Some make the news; many more don't.

This article compiles recent major cybersecurity incidents in Taiwan, analyzes the causes, and provides protection recommendations.

We hope your company never appears on this list.

Taiwan Cybersecurity Incident Overview

Let's look at the overall trends first.

Incident Statistics

Year	Reported Incidents	YoY Growth	Notes
2022	~800+	-	-
2023	~1,000+	25%+	-
2024	~1,200+	20%+	Average 3,993 attacks per week
2025	Continuing to rise	-	CrazyHunter systematic attacks

According to Check Point Research, Taiwan experienced an average of 3,993 cyberattacks per week in 2024, the highest in the Asia-Pacific region.

The National Security Bureau revealed that the industries with the highest attack growth in 2024-2025 were:

• Telecommunications: 6.5x increase
• Transportation: 70% increase
• Defense supply chain: 57% increase

These are only the reported numbers. The actual count is higher.

Attack Type Distribution

Attack Type	Approximate Percentage
Ransomware	30%
Data Breach	25%
Website Intrusion	20%
Phishing/Social Engineering	15%
DDoS Attacks	5%
Other	5%

Affected Industry Distribution

Industry	Impact Level
Government Agencies	High (clear target)
Manufacturing	High (ransomware's top choice)
Financial Services	Medium-High (better protection but high-value target)
Healthcare	Medium-High (sensitive data)
Retail/E-commerce	Medium (customer data)
Education	Medium (weaker protection)

2025-2026 Major Cybersecurity Incidents

Recent significant cases.

2025 Major Incidents

CrazyHunter Ransomware Systematic Hospital Attacks (2025 Q1) 🔴

Taiwan's First "Special Category Data" Breach Storm

This is the most severe cybersecurity incident of 2025. The Chinese hacker group CrazyHunter launched systematic attacks against Taiwanese medical institutions starting February 2025.

Victims (as of March 28, 2025):

Victim	Type	Impact
Mackay Memorial Hospital	Medical center	Core medical order system and registration system shut down
Changhua Christian Hospital	Medical center	Systems encrypted
Asia University Hospital	Hospital	Data breach
KD Inc.	Publicly listed company	Network security incident
Johnson Health Tech	Publicly listed company	Hacker attack
Hua Cheng Electric (suspected)	Publicly listed company	Under investigation

Attack Characteristics:

• Not just file encryption for ransom, but massive theft of sensitive data
• Patient records, surgical records, and healthcare worker personal data published on the dark web
• This was Taiwan's first large-scale breach involving "special category data" (medical data)

Lessons:

1. The healthcare industry has become a priority target for nation-state hackers
2. Medical records are "special category personal data" — breaches have extremely serious consequences
3. Taiwan's cybersecurity authority has designated hospitals as a 2025 priority for support
4. Enterprises need to assess whether they are being "systematically targeted"

---

NoName057 DDoS Attack Wave (Early 2025)

Victim: Pro-Russian hacker group NoName057 launched a third wave of DDoS attacks against Taiwan

Category	Victims
Publicly listed companies	Formosa Plastics, FIC
Government agencies	Directorate-General of Budget, GreTai Securities Market
Transportation	20+ transportation-related websites
Local governments	Multiple city/county government websites

Lessons:

• Geopolitically motivated attacks are increasingly frequent
• Critical infrastructure needs stronger DDoS protection
• Cross-department coordination mechanisms must be established

---

2025 Q1 Publicly Listed Company Security Disclosures

Company	Incident Type	Description
ezTravel	Supply chain attack	Data theft
Shin Hai Gas	Ransomware	Server files encrypted
China Airlines	DDoS attack	Official website attacked
Far Eastern New Century	Supply chain attack	IT vendor attacked, leading to potential data breach
Ennostar (Epistar subsidiary)	Security incident	Subsidiary disclosure
DrayTek	DDoS attack	Website services affected
Grand Cathay Construction	Ransomware	Encryption attack

---

2024 Second Half Incidents

Major Tech Company Hit by Ransomware (2024 Q3)

• Victim: Well-known Taiwanese tech manufacturer
• Attack type: Ransomware
• Impact: Partial production lines shut down for several days
• Ransom amount: Reportedly over $70 million USD
• Result: Unconfirmed whether ransom was paid

Lessons:

• Manufacturing is ransomware's top target
• Downtime costs may exceed the ransom
• Backup and recovery capabilities are critical

Major Telecom Data Breach (2024 Q3)

• Victim: Large telecommunications company
• Breached data: Millions of customer records
• Cause: Third-party vendor vulnerability
• Impact: Customers received scam calls/messages

Lessons:

• Supply chain security cannot be overlooked
• Third-party risk management is essential
• Scams will follow a data breach

Government Agencies Repeatedly Hacked (Throughout 2024)

• Victims: Multiple government agencies and state-owned enterprises
• Attack source: Suspected nation-state attacks from abroad
• Attack type: APT (Advanced Persistent Threat)
• Targets: Sensitive data, critical infrastructure

Lessons:

• Taiwan is a geopolitical target
• Government agencies face nation-state threats
• Cybersecurity is a national security issue

2024 First Half Incidents

Financial Holding Subsidiary Data Breach (2024 Q1)

• Victim: Financial services company
• Breached data: Customer account information
• Cause: Internal employee violation
• Impact: Customers suffered fraud losses

Lessons:

• Insider threats are a real risk
• Access controls and monitoring are essential
• Principle of least privilege

Hospital Hit by Ransomware (2024 Q2)

• Victim: Regional hospital
• Attack type: Ransomware
• Impact: Systems paralyzed for days, reverted to paper records
• Medical record impact: Some electronic medical records inaccessible

Lessons:

• Healthcare is a high-value target
• System downtime affects patient safety
• Backup systems are critical

2023 Major Incidents

Semiconductor Equipment Maker Data Breach (2023)

• Victim: Semiconductor supply chain vendor
• Breached data: Company secrets, customer data
• Attack method: Suspected APT attack
• Impact: Trade secret exposure

Airline Loyalty Member Data Breach (2023)

• Victim: National airline carrier
• Breached data: Tens of thousands of member records
• Impact: Members received scam messages

iRent Car-Sharing Data Breach (2023)

• Victim: Car-sharing service
• Breached data: ~400,000 member records
• Cause: API security vulnerability
• Impact: Personal data circulated on the dark web

Lessons:

• API security is easily overlooked
• Breached personal data is sold on the dark web
• Early detection can minimize damage

In-Depth Case Analysis

Let's examine a few cases in detail.

Case 1: Manufacturing Ransomware Attack

Incident Summary

In the early morning hours, a manufacturing company's IT staff discovered multiple servers were inaccessible. After logging in, they found files encrypted and a ransom note on the desktop.

Attack Method

1. Initial intrusion: Phishing email

   • Employee received an email appearing to be from a supplier
   • Clicking the attachment executed malicious code

2. Lateral movement:

   • Gained initial host privileges
   • Exploited internal network vulnerabilities to move to other hosts
   • Eventually obtained AD administrator privileges

3. Encryption and ransom:

   • Deployed ransomware to all reachable hosts
   • Simultaneously encrypted and exfiltrated data
   • Left ransom note

Why It Succeeded

Failure	Description
Inadequate email security	Malicious attachment not blocked
Insufficient endpoint protection	Malware not detected
Excessive privileges	Single account had overly broad access
Lack of isolation	Internal network was not segmented
Incomplete backups	Backups were also encrypted

Proper Protections

• Advanced email security (sandbox detection)
• EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response)
• Network segmentation
• Privileged account management
• Offline backup (3-2-1 backup rule)

Case 2: API Vulnerability Leading to Data Breach

Incident Summary

An application's API was found to have a vulnerability allowing attackers to freely query other users' data.

Vulnerability Type

IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference)

# Normal request: query your own data
GET /api/user/12345

# Attack request: change ID to query others' data
GET /api/user/12346
GET /api/user/12347
...

The API didn't verify whether the requester had permission to access that data.

Root Cause

Cause	Description
Development oversight	Authorization check not implemented
Insufficient testing	No security testing performed
Rush to launch	Features prioritized over security
Lack of review	No code review process

Proper Protections

• API authorization validation (verify every request)
• Security code review
• Penetration testing
• API security tools
• Rate limiting (prevent mass enumeration)

Case 3: Supply Chain Attack

Incident Summary

A company discovered a data breach. Investigation revealed that their own systems weren't compromised — a supplier had been hacked.

Attack Path

1. Attacker compromised the supplier's system
2. Accessed the customer's environment through the supplier's connection
3. Exfiltrated customer data
4. Customer was completely unaware

Why It's Hard to Defend

• The supplier is a "trusted" connection
• Not within your own monitoring scope
• You can't control the supplier's security

Proper Protections

Measure	Description
Supplier assessment	Evaluate supplier's cybersecurity capabilities
Least privilege	Suppliers can only access necessary resources
Monitoring	Monitor supplier access behavior
Contractual requirements	Include cybersecurity clauses in contracts
Regular review	Periodically audit supplier status

Don't want to be the next victim? Other people's lessons are the cheapest tuition. Schedule a security assessment to identify your security gaps.

Common Lessons from Cybersecurity Incidents

What patterns emerge from analyzing these incidents?

Lesson 1: Fundamentals Weren't Done Right

Common Failure	Incident Percentage
Unpatched vulnerabilities	35%
Weak/default passwords	25%
Lack of MFA	20%
Insufficient email security	15%
Other	5%

Most incidents aren't caused by sophisticated attacks — they're caused by neglecting the basics.

Action Items

• Establish regular patching procedures
• Implement password policies
• Enable MFA across the board
• Deploy email security

Lesson 2: Detection and Response Are Too Slow

Average time to discover a breach: 200+ days.

Attackers have ample time to:

• Move laterally
• Locate valuable data
• Establish persistent access
• Prepare the final strike

Action Items

• Deploy detection tools (EDR, SIEM)
• Establish monitoring mechanisms
• Practice incident response
• Consider MDR services

Lesson 3: Backups Won't Save You

Backups are the last line of defense against ransomware, but many backups fail:

Failure Reason	Percentage
Backups also encrypted	40%
Backups too old	25%
Never tested restoration	20%
Incomplete backups	15%

Action Items

• Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule
• Maintain offline (air-gapped) backups
• Regularly test restoration
• Encrypt backups

Lesson 4: People Are the Weakest Link

Human Factor	Percentage
Phishing/social engineering success	35%
Insider violations	15%
Configuration errors	25%
Other human mistakes	10%

85% of cybersecurity incidents involve human factors.

Action Items

• Security awareness training
• Regular phishing simulations
• Build a security culture
• Reduce opportunities for human error

Lesson 5: The Supply Chain Is a Blind Spot

Your security isn't just your responsibility:

• Supplier gets hacked -> you get hacked
• Open-source package has a vulnerability -> you're affected
• Cloud service has issues -> you're affected

Action Items

• Assess supplier cybersecurity
• Restrict supplier access privileges
• Monitor third-party access
• Have backup alternatives

Enterprise Protection Recommendations

Based on these cases, what should enterprises do?

Priority Actions

If resources are limited, start with these:

Priority	Item	Impact
1	MFA	Blocks 80%+ of account attacks
2	Email security	Phishing is the biggest entry point
3	Backup verification	Last line against ransomware
4	Regular patching	Known vulnerabilities are primary targets
5	Employee training	People are the weakest link

Phased Implementation

Phase 1 (Immediate)

Low-cost, high-impact measures:

• Enable MFA
• Update critical systems
• Strengthen password policies
• Verify backup usability

Phase 2 (Short-term)

Requires some investment:

• Deploy EDR
• Enhance email security
• Security awareness training
• Create an incident response plan

Phase 3 (Medium-term)

Comprehensive protection:

• Network segmentation
• SIEM deployment
• Regular penetration testing
• Red team exercises
• SOC setup or outsourcing

Building a Security Culture

Technology is only part of the equation. Culture matters more:

• Executive support: Cybersecurity is a business issue, not just an IT issue
• Everyone participates: Everyone has a responsibility
• Continuous improvement: Security isn't a one-time project
• Learn from incidents: Learn from both others' and your own incidents

How to Stay Updated on Cybersecurity News

Stay current on cybersecurity developments.

Taiwan Cybersecurity Information Sources

Source	Type	URL
Administration for Cyber Security	Government	https://moda.gov.tw/ACS
TWCERT/CC	Incident response center	https://www.twcert.org.tw
iThome Security	Media	https://www.ithome.com.tw/security
Information Security	Media	https://www.informationsecurity.com.tw
HITCON	Community	https://hitcon.org

International Cybersecurity Sources

Source	Type
CISA	US Government
Krebs on Security	Renowned blog
The Hacker News	News media
Dark Reading	Industry media

Tracking Recommendations

• Subscribe to RSS feeds or newsletters
• Follow social media accounts
• Attend cybersecurity conferences
• Join cybersecurity communities

FAQ

Do small and medium businesses get attacked?

Yes. And increasingly so.

Reasons:

• SMBs typically have weaker protection
• Ransomware doesn't discriminate by company size
• SMBs are part of the supply chain

SMBs aren't "too small to be attacked" — they're "too small for anyone to know they were attacked."

Should you disclose a breach?

When regulations require it (e.g., personal data breaches), you must disclose.

For other situations, consider:

• Public disclosure may damage reputation
• But concealment carries even greater risk
• Transparent handling can actually build trust

Recommendation: Consult legal and PR experts.

Should you pay the ransom?

This is a difficult decision.

Reasons not to pay:

• Encourages criminal activity
• No guarantee of data recovery
• May be attacked again

Some companies pay anyway:

• Downtime costs are too high
• No backups available
• Data is too critical

Recommendation: Prepare in advance so you never have to face this choice.

Is cyber insurance useful?

Helpful, but not a cure-all.

Insurance can cover:

• Incident investigation costs
• Recovery expenses
• Legal fees
• Partial ransom payments

Insurance cannot:

• Prevent incidents from happening
• Restore lost reputation
• Rebuild customer trust

Recommendation: Insurance is one layer of protection, not the whole strategy.

Next Steps

Cybersecurity incidents aren't a question of "if" — they're a question of "when."

Recommended Actions

Do Immediately

1. Review whether your company has similar vulnerabilities
2. Confirm basic protection measures are in place
3. Verify backup usability
4. Create an incident response plan

Ongoing

1. Follow cybersecurity news
2. Regular security assessments
3. Employee security training
4. Update protection measures

Related Resources

Further reading:

• Complete Cybersecurity Guide: Cybersecurity fundamentals
• Security Incident Reporting Guide: What to do when an incident occurs
• Cybersecurity Act Complete Interpretation: Regulatory requirements
• EDR vs MDR vs SOC: Protection solution selection

---

Want to avoid becoming the next case study?

Other people's lessons are the cheapest tuition. Proactively identifying weaknesses is better than being reactively hacked.

CloudInsight offers:

• Vulnerability assessments
• Penetration testing
• Security architecture review
• Incident response preparedness

Schedule a Security Assessment — let us help you identify potential risks.

First consultation is free, and all content is kept strictly confidential.