Pacific Cyber Round Up - March 2026

Written By Klée

Written by Siosaia Vaipuna

The March Roundup reflects a region progressing its digital and connectivity advancement agenda. This includes major infrastructure developments such as the Marshall Islands’ participation in new subsea cable initiatives, the landing of the Hawaiki cable in Tonga, and Niue’s granting Starlink temporary license to operate in the country. At the national level, countries such as Fiji and Papua New Guinea are progressing digital government initiatives, including digital ID systems and online public services.

At the same time, harmful activity in the cyber domain persists and continues to grow in sophistication. Reporting this month highlights the persistence of scams targeting Pacific communities, including evolving fraud schemes in Tonga, cryptocurrency-related scams in Samoa, and ongoing scam activity in Fiji. Ransomware also remains a concern, with joint advisories and reporting on INC Ransom activity affecting the wider region, including links to incidents in Tonga. Samoa’s Office of the Ombudsman is also alleged to have been breached by the Lockbit group.

Online safety continues to be a prominent issue across the region. Several reports highlight the real-world impacts of online abuse and harmful digital behaviour, including cases in Fiji, as well as broader concerns around misinformation. Emerging risks such as deepfakes and technology-enabled exploitation are also gaining attention, alongside the broader societal impacts of online harm.

Encouragingly, governments and partners are continuing to strengthen institutional responses. Fiji, for example, advanced national planning through a new security and cyber resilience roadmap, alongside investments in policing, forensic capabilities, and cyber strategies. Capacity building efforts also continue across the region, including digital literacy initiatives such as media training in Solomon Islands.

As with previous month, the Pacific’s cyber landscape reflects a dual reality: steady progress in digital capability and governance, alongside increasing exposure to cyber threats and online harms that continue to test national systems and community resilience.

This trend is consistent with the Pacific Security Outlook Report 2026, which warns that the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks are currently outpacing defensive capabilities. The report emphasizes that as the region becomes more reliant on critical infrastructure like undersea cables and emerging technologies like AI, it becomes a more attractive target for cyber and cyber enabled crime and foreign interference. To navigate this period of vulnerability, the Pacific must lean into collective action, prioritizing improved information sharing and a coordinated regional approach to safeguard its digital future.

Find out more on this and other stories below:

Policy and Governance

  • The Pacific Security Outlook Report (Pacific Island Forum Secretariat)

  • Govt launches strategic roadmap to strengthen national security and cyber resilience — (Fiji Village, FBC News)

  • Pacific broadcasters rethink news delivery in digital age — (RNZ)

  • Social media has changed disaster visibility in Fiji — (RNZ)

  • Diaspora notes a dark gap in digital economy — (The National)

  • Asia-Pacific faces a new era of risk — (The Fiji Times)

Cybersecurity and Cyber Threats

Infrastructure and Capacity Building

Online Safety

Digital Transformation and Services

This blog first appeared on Pacific Cyber Round Up at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pacific-cyber-roundup-march-2026-siosaia-vaipuna-qoevc/

Klée https://kleeaiken.com
Previous

Pacific Cyber Round Up - April 2026
Next

Pacific Cyber Round Up - February 2026