A new report by S-RM and FGS Global warns that ransomware attacks in Asia-Pacific surged 59% year-on-year in 2025, with East and Southeast Asia recording a 71% increase — the fastest growth globally, according to data from over 800 incidents handled by S-RM. The report was published by TechPinas and highlights the region's growing vulnerability as cybercriminals become more sophisticated.
The report notes that while businesses increasingly adopt AI for efficiency, cybercriminals are leveraging AI to accelerate attacks, craft personalised extortion tactics, and exploit new vulnerabilities in AI systems. Additionally, attackers are weaponising stricter data privacy regulations and media exposure to pressure organisations during negotiations and crisis response.
The Cyber Incident Insights Report 2026 draws from over 800 global incidents and underscores the impact of rapid digitalisation and expanding online infrastructure in Asia-Pacific. Experts urge businesses to strengthen defences as the threat landscape continues to evolve, driven by both technological adoption and increasingly aggressive extortion methods.