Taipei, May 15 (CNA) Data collated by IT security firm Check Point has shown that Taiwan was the number one target of cyberattacks in the world during the first quarter of 2023.
In a statement released Monday, Check Point said the company’s researchers recorded 3,250 cyberattacks per organization in Taiwan each week in the first quarter 2023, a 24 percent year-over-year increase and a 160 percent higher than the global average.
According to the cybersecurity software seller, cybercriminals are finding ways to “weaponize legitimate tools for malicious gains.”
Of note, Check Point said, were a supply chain attack launched by Trojanizing the 3CXDesktop app and the fastest-ever encrypting ransomware the company had ever seen.
In addition, developments in artificial intelligence have facilitated cybercriminal activities, as less-skilled individuals can deploy ChatGPT to generate code for cyberattacks, Check Point said.
By industry globally, Check Point said that its researchers found organizations in the education and research sector to be the most targeted, receiving 2,507 attacks each week in the Q1 of the year.
The total, an increase of 15 percent compared with the first quarter of 2022, is thought to be the result of many institutions shifting to remote learning, Check Point said, adding that many were “still struggling to secure extended networks and access points.”
Following education and research were government/military (1,725), healthcare (1,684), and communications (1,598), according to Check Point.
