TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) report has found 151 cyber security incidents in Taiwan last month, the highest since Sept. 2022.

MODA’s monthly security report also showed that 64,806 pieces of intelligence were collected from government agencies in May, marking the highest level of suspicious threats this year, per CNA.

Among identifiable threats, information gathering (51%) was the most common, involving attacks like scanning, probing, and social engineering. This was followed by intrusion attempts (17%) and intrusion attacks (15%), where unauthorized access to systems or user permissions occurred.

MODA’s Administration for Cyber Security said cybersecurity threats remain prevalent globally, and Taiwan faces unique challenges due to its political and economic situation. “During key events like presidential visits, important foreign guest visits, or elections, abnormal traffic often spikes, necessitating heightened cybersecurity monitoring and intelligence sharing,” the ministry added.

Analysis of May’s data showed an increase in external scanning and probing attacks, MODA said. Existing cybersecurity mechanisms successfully blocked most malicious activities.

MODA added that hackers recently used cloud services like Dropbox to host malware, sending emails claiming copyright infringement to lure government personnel into clicking malicious links. The ministry said agencies are urged to establish guidelines and restrictions for using cloud services.