[2025 H1 APT Threat Landscape Insights] Asia-Pacific Emerges as Cyberattack Hotspot: Experts Highlight Critical Defense Priorities

TeamT5, a leading threat intelligence brand in the Asia Pacific region, has released its latest cybersecurity threat insights, highlighting a continued rise in advanced persistent threat (APT) incidents. The information technology sector—including the semiconductor industry—remains the most targeted in the region. TeamT5 recommends that organizations stay informed with up-to-date threat intelligence and enhance their cybersecurity defenses by understanding attackers’ tactics, techniques, and procedures.

In the first half of 2025, ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region—including China & Taiwan relations, intensified U.S.-China technological competition, and the India-Pakistan conflict—have extended into cyberspace. As a result, APT attacks have increased, with attackers employing more advanced techniques.

In the Asia-Pacific region, TeamT5 identified over 200 targeted attacks out of more than 150,000 detected incidents. By industry, the information technology sector—including the semiconductor industry—was the most frequently targeted, followed by government agencies and critical infrastructure (including telecommunications, healthcare, energy, and transportation).

In Japan, the most targeted industry is manufacturing, with other sectors such as government, information technology, and financial institutions also facing persistent threats.

In Southeast Asia, the most targeted industries include government agencies and the energy sector.

And in Taiwan, the most targeted industries are the information technology sector (including the semiconductor industry) and critical infrastructure (including energy, healthcare, and transportation). Additionally, the CrazyHunter ransomware attack impacted several Taiwanese organizations, with victims spanning medical institutions, information technology sector and academic organizations. (More analysis by TeamT5: [Case Study] CrazyHunter Ransomware Attacks Targeted Taiwan Hospitals)

Regarding attack methods, two key trends should be noted: first, the use of legitimate tools to deploy malicious software; and second, malware designed to target specific devices. Notably, the following critical vulnerabilities have been widely exploited by state-sponsored threat actors:

TeamT5 recommends that organizations using related equipment and services apply patches as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of attack.

TeamT5 also highlighted a key trend in cyberattacks during the first half of the year - China has escalated its own counter-narratives. They increasingly publicly attributed cyberattacks to the US and Taiwan.

Such efforts serve to deflect scrutiny and delegitimize Western accusations of China’s malicious cyber operations.For example, in April, the Harbin Public Security Bureau (PSB) accused three US NSA agents of attacking the Harbin Asian Winter Games. In June, the Guangzhou PSB alleged that Taiwan’s Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command (ICEFCOM) was behind cyberattacks on Chinese tech firms, naming 20 ICEFCOM soldiers and linking the operation directly to Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

In addition, TeamT5’s expert team has observed that generative AI tools are increasingly being used in information operation, enabling the rapid creation of fake content and images that are difficult to distinguish from real ones, thereby increasing the complexity of defense.

Looking ahead to the second half of 2025, the cybersecurity landscape in the Asia-Pacific region will remain uncertain and challenging. To stay ahead and reduce risk in this ever-evolving threat environment, organizations must continuously leverage up-to-date threat intelligence and strengthen their detection and response capabilities. In the face of increasingly sophisticated attack methods, early adoption of threat intelligence-driven defense strategies will be key to ensuring operational stability and the security of digital assets.

TeamT5 consists of top cyber threat analysts. Leveraging our geographic and cultural advantages, we have the best understanding of cyber attackers in Asia Pacific. TeamT5 is frequently invited to share insights at top cybersecurity conferences. Our threat intelligence research expertise and solutions are recognized as the 2023-2024 Company of the Year Award in Taiwanese Threat Intelligence by Frost & Sullivan.

Based on our research in malware & Advanced Persistent Threat (APT), we provide cyber threat intelligence reports and anti-ransomware solutions to clients in the USA and Asia Pacific region. Clients include government agencies, financial business, and high tech enterprises.

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