Dominican Republic warns of rising cyber‑attack attempts and unsafe public Wi‑Fi

Dominican Republic cyberattack attempts public Wi‑Fi CNCS VPN

The National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS) highlighted the risks of using public Wi‑Fi networks, noting that malicious actors often set up fake access points to intercept user data. Director Carlos Leonardo advised users to employ a virtual private network (VPN) and to avoid performing financial transactions while connected to unsecured networks.

CNCS data show that in 2025 the country recorded 481 million cyber‑attack attempts on public entities, more than double the 265 million attempts reported in 2024. In 2026 there were 32 confirmed incidents, with the health sector being the most targeted. Officials said the banking sector is now a regional reference for cybersecurity and that the nation is prepared to respond to future attacks.

Entities: Carlos Leonardo · Centro Nacional de Ciberseguridad · Fundación Alameda · Gabriela Burgos · Gustavo Vera · Jujuy Province · Yoanna Bejarán

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[DISPUTED] The number of attack attempts increased by more than 100 % compared with 2024's 265 million attempts. (Centro Nacional de Ciberseguridad (CNCS))
[○ 1 SOURCE] The CNCS claims the country is prepared to respond to any cyber attack. (Carlos Leonardo, director of CNCS)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Using a VPN encrypts traffic and reduces risk on public Wi‑Fi. (Carlos Leonardo, director of CNCS)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Cybercriminals create fake Wi‑Fi access points to intercept data. (Carlos Leonardo, director of CNCS)
[DISPUTED] 481 million cyber‑attack attempts were recorded against public entities in the Dominican Republic in 2025. (Centro Nacional de Ciberseguridad (CNCS))
[○ 1 SOURCE] In 2026 there were 32 cyber incidents, with the health sector being the main target. (Centro Nacional de Ciberseguridad (CNCS))
[○ 1 SOURCE] Public Wi‑Fi networks can expose users to cyber attacks. (Carlos Leonardo, director of CNCS)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Users should avoid financial transactions while connected to public Wi‑Fi. (Carlos Leonardo, director of CNCS)