Singapore is grappling with an unprecedented barrage of cyberattacks, with more than 6.4 million incidents detected in 2024 alone, a figure continuing its alarming climb this year.
Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky warns that artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly amplifying these threats, enabling cybercriminals to launch “stealthier and less predictable” campaigns across the highly digitalised hub and the wider Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
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New research from Kaspersky reveals that its solutions intercepted a staggering 6,487,624 cyberattacks from various online resources in Singapore during 2024. This alarming tally included over 340,000 exploit-based attacks, 63,400 involving password stealers, and 82,742 attacks utilising backdoors, with these numbers continuing their upward trajectory into 2025.
The escalating crisis is not confined to Singapore, with incident response requests across the Asia Pacific more than doubling, jumping from 3.6 per cent to 7.3 per cent.
Kaspersky’s data shows it blocked over 62 million attacks from online sources regionally, including more than 16.6 million backdoor attacks and 219,000 banking malware incidents. Critically, over 8 million ransomware attacks were intercepted, accounting for approximately 55 per cent of the global total of 14.5 million, underscoring its widespread prevalence in the region.
Cyberthreat sophistication and intensity are surging in tandem with technological advancements. In 2024, an astonishing 467,000 new malicious samples were detected daily, starkly contrasting the single new threat sample per second recorded in 2011. This trajectory persists into 2025.
The rapid evolution of AI is a primary driver behind this surge, allowing attackers to craft highly convincing, large-volume phishing campaigns using large language models. AI-driven bots are also being deployed to impersonate real users, engaging victims in prolonged conversations through AI-generated text, audio, or video for elaborate scam operations.
Furthermore, AI is actively assisting in malware development, including the creation of malicious code, and automating cybercriminal activities, thereby bolstering attack volume and reach.
A prime example of this AI-driven threat is the emerging APAC-based ransomware group, FunkSec. Despite being active for less than a year, FunkSec has rapidly outpaced many established cybercriminals. The group targets the government, technology, finance, and education sectors, deploying malware developed with AI technologies. This advanced capability allows FunkSec to disable over 50 processes on victim machines and equips its malware with self-cleanup features.
These ransomware attacks are particularly concerning given that the APAC region accounts for most such cases worldwide. With generative AI becoming increasingly accessible and sophisticated in 2025, a further intensification of these regional threats is anticipated.
Igor Kuznetsov, Director of the Global Research and Analysis Team at Kaspersky, issued a stark warning: “We’re witnessing persistent increases in the volume of cyberattacks both in Singapore and regionally. These attacks are getting stealthier and less predictable, as cybercriminals leverage AI to enhance and invent new ways of executing their malicious campaigns.”
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Kuznetsov added, “As a highly digitalised, interconnected business hub, Singapore will continue to pose as a prime target for threat actors. It is hence imperative for individuals and organisations alike to invest in their cybersecurity defences to prevent debilitating data and financial losses.”
To mitigate these evolving threats, Kaspersky experts recommend individuals and businesses exercise caution. Key advice includes limiting the online sharing of sensitive details, verifying unsolicited messages, calls, or links, scrutinising videos for unnatural movements indicative of deepfakes, and only installing applications from official app stores.
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