Semperis has released Singapore findings from its annual ransomware report, which found that organisations in Singapore faced AI-linked ransomware attacks at 1.5 times the global rate.

According to the study, six in 10 Singapore organisations targeted by ransomware in the past year said attackers used AI, compared with 40% globally. Nearly all respondents in Singapore, or 98%, said AI featured in the attack in some way, whether used by attackers, defenders or both.

The data also pointed to a new route into organisations. Some 42% of Singapore respondents said attackers manipulated or exploited an AI agent or system within their organisation, suggesting internal AI tools are becoming part of the attack surface.

Identity systems remained central to these incidents, with 92% of ransomware attacks in Singapore targeting or exploiting identity infrastructure, above the global figure of 87%.

Systems cited included Active Directory, Entra ID and Okta. Yet only 54% of organisations said they maintained dedicated identity backup systems, while fewer than half had automated identity system recovery.

The findings showed attackers were also putting pressure on employees beyond the workplace. Among organisations that received threats, 56% reported threatening texts, letters or packages sent to home or office, while 41% said family members or friends were threatened.

In a smaller but more severe category, 14% of organisations whose attackers used threats said they also faced threats of abduction. Across the wider group of countries surveyed, psychological intimidation featured in nearly a quarter of all attacks.

Methods used by ransomware groups in Singapore have changed since the previous year.

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