Ransomware Cases Rise 17.6% in Hong Kong
Hong Kong police report rising ransomware cases alongside a drop in overall technology crime in the first three quarters of 2026.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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Hong Kong police recorded a 17.6 per cent rise in ransomware cases in the first three quarters of 2026, even as total technology crime cases fell 11.5 per cent from January to September. The figures were released in a police update covering the period through September 30, 2026.
Why it matters
Police attributed the rise in ransomware to hackers using technology, including AI, to probe corporate computer systems for vulnerabilities, and said AI has greatly reduced the costs of attacks. The data points to a shift in the threat landscape even as overall cybercrime figures decline.
Police recorded 21,573 technology crime cases from January to September, with losses falling 15.1% to HK$3.9 billion from HK$4.59 billion a year earlier. Ransomware rose 17.6% to 40 cases while hacking cases dropped 21.6% to 29.
The players
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force is the city's principal law enforcement agency, responsible for investigating technology crime and cybersecurity threats.
Interpol
Interpol is the International Criminal Police Organization, which coordinates cross-border policing operations, including the joint phishing-removal operation with Hong Kong police.
The details
Police said hackers are using generative AI, agentic AI and automated AI to power attack chains. To counter this, police developed an AI-powered system called Rapid that analyses source codes, websites and domain indicators to flag suspected fraudulent online entities, and joint operations with Interpol over July 2025 to June 2026 removed more than 51,000 phishing links.
Timeline
July 2025 to June 2026: a year-long joint operation with Interpol removed more than 51,000 phishing links.
January to September 2026: Hong Kong recorded the ransomware rise and the overall decline in technology crime.
September 30, 2026: the reporting period for the latest figures closed.
The Tech Race
Hong Kong's ransomware rise comes as attackers use generative and agentic AI to probe corporate systems more cheaply than before. The city's joint phishing takedowns with Interpol, which removed more than 51,000 links over a year, show a coordinated enforcement response to that shift.
Businesses and individuals face a higher chance of ransomware if AI lowers the cost of attacks on corporate systems. Keeping software patched and reviewing exposed systems reduces the risk of becoming a target.
The takeaway
Ransomware is rising even as total cybercrime falls, so overall declines should not be read as reduced risk. Organisations should prioritise fixing known vulnerabilities, since police reported more than 44,000 high-risk loopholes to relevant bodies for immediate repair.
Further reading
For broader context on the threats behind these numbers, explore our Cybersecurity coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by South China Morning Post.
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