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In 2024, Asia Pacific and Japan are experiencing a surge in web attacks, with an alarming 51 billion incidents. The rise in cyberattacks is largely attributed to the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI), which cybercriminals are leveraging to launch more sophisticated and automated attacks. This trend highlights the growing need for stronger cybersecurity measures in the region to combat the evolving threat landscape and protect sensitive data from malicious online activities.
The Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region saw a significant 73% increase in web application attacks in 2024, as reported by cybersecurity company Akamai Technologies. This rise, outlined in Akamai's "State of the Internet" report, is linked to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, which are broadening the attack surface and enhancing the complexity of cyber threats.
According to the "State of Apps and API Security 2025" report, the region experienced 51 billion web application attacks last year, up from 29 billion in 2023. The countries most targeted were Australia, India, and Singapore, which faced 20.3 billion, 17.3 billion, and 15.9 billion attacks, respectively.
The financial and commerce sectors were the hardest hit, with more than 27 billion and 18 billion attacks, respectively. Globally, 311 billion web application attacks were reported in 2024, marking a 33% increase from the previous year.
The report also focuses on the growing vulnerability of application programming interfaces (APIs), which are increasingly used to integrate AI tools with business platforms. Akamai observed 150 billion API attacks globally between January 2023 and December 2024, many of which targeted weak authentication and automated entry points. AI-driven APIs were particularly vulnerable due to their external exposure and inadequate security measures.
Along with web application threats, the APJ region experienced a significant rise in Layer 7 distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which grew by 66% year-over-year. The region ranked second globally, with 504 billion attacks recorded in December 2024. Singapore had the highest number in APJ, with 4.7 trillion attacks over two years, followed by India (1.1 trillion) and South Korea (607 billion).
On a global scale, Layer 7 DDoS attacks increased by 94%, totaling 7 trillion attacks in 2024. HTTP floods remained the primary threat, particularly affecting high-tech companies and digital media platforms.
Additional findings highlighted in the report include:
Reuben Koh, Director of Security Technology and Strategy at Akamai APJ, emphasized the need for adaptive security strategies in response to the growing sophistication and scale of cyberattacks. Governments in the region are stepping up their regulatory efforts. Singapore has expanded its cybersecurity laws, Japan has updated its national strategy, and Australia enacted the Cybersecurity Act 2024. India's Digital Personal Data Protection Bill also signals tighter compliance measures.
With these regulatory deadlines approaching, Akamai advises businesses to adopt proactive security measures, such as shift-left security practices, better API governance, and AI-based defenses to mitigate emerging threats.
The SOTI report series, which is now in its 11th year, draws from Akamai’s infrastructure, processing over a third of global web traffic, to provide valuable insights into cybersecurity risks and trends.
For questions or comments write to contactus@bostonbrandmedia.com
Source: businesstoday
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