TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Following recent cyberattacks on two hospitals, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) announced Saturday that protecting medical institutions from hackers will be a top cybersecurity priority for 2025.

Mackay Memorial Hospital and Changhua Christian Hospital were recently targeted by ransomware attacks from a group known as Crazy Hunter, raising concerns over hospital vulnerabilities, CNA reported.

In response, the Administration for Cyber Security (ACS) under MODA has designated hospitals as a key focus for cybersecurity training and hacking prevention measures this year. The initiative aims to enhance personnel training and strengthen the security of hospital equipment.

In February, 60 cybersecurity incidents were recorded, marking an increase of 13 from the previous month, with malware installation being a frequent issue. While the Mackay attack was more severe, ACS Director General Tsai Fu-longe (蔡福隆) emphasized the need for all hospitals to secure their intranet systems.

Tsai identified Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) as the best solution for mitigating ransomware and malware attacks, as it provides continuous monitoring to detect and respond to cyber threats. He added that by year’s end, both Mackay Memorial and Changhua Christian Hospital will participate in a Cyber Offensive and Defensive Exercise.

According to the National Security Bureau, Taiwan faced an average of 2.4 million cyberattacks per day in 2024, with government agencies being the primary targets. Most hacking attempts are believed to originate from China.