Radware has reported a dramatic escalation in DDoS attacks across Asia Pacific, with average mitigated attack volumes increasing by 364% year-on-year. The findings come from the company’s latest threat intelligence report, which analysed attack data from its cloud and managed services, alongside open-source intelligence from Telegram.
According to Radware, the surge is being driven by a mix of geopolitical tension, increasingly complex digital environments, and the accessibility of AI tools that lower the barrier for cybercriminals.
“Across APAC, there has been a sharp escalation in the frequency and intensity of cyberattacks—and DDoS incidents are leading the charge,” said Kenichiro Sasaki, Radware’s country manager in Japan. “We’re seeing a convergence of more sophisticated threats, a broader attack surface, and AI-driven tools making it easier for bad actors to launch impactful campaigns.”
Network DDoS Attacks Intensify
The report shows that network-layer DDoS attacks have become both more frequent and more powerful:
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Average attacks per customer rose 72% from 2023
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Average mitigated DDoS volume jumped 364%
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Service providers bore 55% of the attack volume, followed by tech (21%) and gaming (11%)
DNS Flood Attacks Also on the Rise
Application-layer attacks targeting DNS infrastructure also surged:
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DNS flood queries rose 93% year-on-year
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Malicious DNS volume similarly increased by 93%
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Key targets included manufacturing (43%), telecom (40%), and energy (14%)
The increase in DNS-focused attacks reflects a broader global shift towards Layer 7 tactics that bypass traditional network defences and target core digital services.
Hacktivism Fuels Ideological Attacks
Telegram activity monitored by Radware’s research team highlights a sustained rise in politically motivated cyber activity. Hacktivist-claimed DDoS attacks rose 20% globally in 2024, with several APAC countries heavily targeted:
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India topped the list with 761 claimed attacks
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Indonesia (614), Taiwan (281), Thailand (220), and Bangladesh (188) followed
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Government agencies were the top target (17%), followed by education (12%) and finance (9%)
Prominent hacktivist groups included Executor DDoS, RipperSec, and NoName057(16), all of whom used Telegram to publicise attacks linked to ongoing geopolitical disputes.
The Road Ahead
With DDoS attack sizes and complexity on the rise, the report warns that traditional mitigation strategies are no longer sufficient. Organisations in APAC are urged to adopt more dynamic and adaptive defences that can respond to fast-changing threats across both network and application layers.
The full threat intelligence report is available from Radware’s website, and includes regional and sector-specific insights for security teams preparing for the next wave of disruption.
