Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Taiwan says AI-driven hacking campaign targeted government agencies
In July, computer experts in Taiwan noticed that smart computer programs from another country were trying to break into government computers.
These programs use artificial intelligence, which means they can help plan and carry out attacks by themselves.
The government team that protects Taiwan's computers is called the Ministry of Digital Affairs.
They said the attacks came from outside Taiwan but did not say which country.
They worked to stop the attacks and said the affected offices were safe.
A security company in Israel called Dream found clues about the attack.
Dream said the computer programs stole passwords and looked at Taiwan's nuclear safety agency.
Taiwan is now making new rules to protect its computers from AI attacks.
This is part of a bigger disagreement between Taiwan and China over who controls Taiwan.
Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs detected AI-assisted cyberattacks from overseas targeting government agencies in July.
The attacks combined manual hacking with AI agent-assisted tools such as Open Claw, and affected units completed their handling of the incident.
The ministry's statement did not name China, and China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment.
Israeli cybersecurity firm Dream reported an AI-driven campaign that stole personnel records from Taiwan's justice ministry and scanned its nuclear safety agency.
Taiwan's National Security Bureau said Chinese cyberattacks on key infrastructure rose 6% in 2025 to an average of 2.63 million per day.
- Who
- Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs and its National Institute of Cyber Security, along with Israeli cybersecurity firm Dream, which reported the AI-driven campaign.
- What
- AI-assisted cyberattacks from overseas targeting Taiwan's government agencies, including an AI-agent campaign that stole credentials and personnel records and scanned a nuclear safety agency.
- When
- Attacks were detected in July; warning alerts were issued beginning July 20, and Taiwan disclosed the incident on August 13.
- Where
- Taiwan's government agencies; the attack sources were overseas.
- Why
- The ministry said the attacks came from overseas sources; Taiwan has long complained about China's 'hybrid warfare,' though the statement did not mention China.
- Victim
- Taiwan's government agencies
- Attack timeframe
- July, with warning alerts starting July 20
- Attack method
- Hybrid of manual operations and AI agent-assisted attacks, such as Open Claw
- Attribution
- Overseas source per Ministry of Digital Affairs; China not named
- Annual cyberattacks on Taiwan infrastructure (2025)
- Average 2.63 million per day, up 6% from the previous year
- Reporting company
- Dream, Israeli cybersecurity firm
- Data stolen (per Dream)
- Passwords and personnel records from Taiwan's justice ministry; nuclear safety agency scanned