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The Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) launched the All-round CyberDefence 2026 campaign in the first quarter of this year under the theme “Building a United Front to Defend Cyber Security”. The campaign integrated law enforcement, publicity and youth development to bolster societal cyber resilience.
The CSTCB promotes innovative education and carries out public promotion work through both online and offline channels, aiming to enhance vigilance and preparedness against emerging cyber threats. It also strengthens intelligence analysis and ensures precise enforcement to effectively combat cyber frauds and technology crimes, complemented by practical drills and case sharing to improve overall anti-scam capabilities. Furthermore, the CSTCB deepens collaboration with government departments, public organisations and enterprises to promote information sharing as well as joint prevention and control.
Law enforcement
The CSTCB conducted targeted operations with local and cross-border law enforcement agencies to combat criminal syndicates. In collaboration with social media platforms, over 1 600 suspected fraudulent pages and advertisements were removed. Under operations codenamed “ATTACKPLAN” and “BLACKSWORD”, more than 830 individuals were arrested and fraud networks were dismantled. Through data analysis, technological application and interdepartmental cooperation, the CSTCB aims to develop a comprehensive cyber defence system to enhance societal resilience against cyber threats.
Publicity
The CSTCB organised multiple cybersecurity and anti-fraud seminars with industry experts and financial institutions to share the latest scam trends and prevention strategies. Around 1 500 participants attended these seminars in the first quarter. Sample cases and alerts were also disseminated through media outlets. In January, the CyberDefenders’ Alliance held an anti-deception workshop at Meta Hong Kong’s office, where stakeholders shared experience in handling social media security and emerging threats. Furthermore, the CSTCB continued to carry out the “Ethical Phishing Email and SMS Campaign”. This social engineering exercise attracted the participation of 53 000 participants from over 300 organisations, representing a 40 per cent increase compared to last year.
Youth development
Working with the Education Bureau and the Digital Policy Office, the CSTCB launched the CyberDefenders’ Alliance Card Game and held the first CyberDefenders’ Alliance Inter-School Championship in 2026, attracting 15 000 students from more than 100 primary and secondary schools. These activities enhance students’ digital literacy and anti-scam awareness through gamified learning. Additionally, the CSTCB co-organised the Greater Bay Area Youth AI and CyberSec Challenge 2025 with the Judiciary Police and the Education and Youth Development Bureau of Macao, attracting over 1 100 students across the three regions to participate. The competition cultivates young people’s capabilities in technological application and collaboration through teaming up across regions, artificial intelligence (AI) training camp and demonstration of innovation and technology solutions. Students with outstanding performance would have the opportunity for exchange visits.
Looking ahead, the CSTCB will continue to deepen cross-sector collaboration and information exchange, enhance early warning and response capabilities, and build a more resilient cybersecurity defence with society.
