Hong Kong hit with record cyberattacks in 2025 as AI-linked threats rise

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Jess MaJanuary 28, 2026 at 09:48 AM

AI Summary

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In 2025, Hong Kong experienced a record number of cyberattacks, with detected system vulnerabilities tripling. The Hong Kong Productivity Council's chief digital officer, Edmond Lai Shiao-bun, warned that artificial intelligence (AI) will likely exacerbate these threats in the coming year. The Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre identified AI-driven attacks, weak AI governance, third-party vulnerabilities, over-reliance on cloud services, and AI-powered robot threats as major risks. The centre recorded 18,577 cybersecurity incidents and system loopholes, with phishing attacks accounting for over half of the cases. Experts are urging businesses to invest in cybersecurity defenses and provide top-down guidance on AI use to mitigate these increasing risks.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

2025 50% Hong Kong Productivity Council 60% Artificial Intelligence ×670% Edmond Lai Shiao-bun ×270% Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre ×280% Cyberattacks ×290% Hong Kong ×290%

Keywords

cyberattacks 100% artificial intelligence 90% ai-driven attacks 80% cybersecurity 70% hong kong 70% system vulnerabilities 60% phishing attacks 50% cloud services 40%