SEPANG: Cybersecurity threats in Malaysia have recently been increasing in terms of frequency and severity, says Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching.
She said the country experienced a number of serious cyberattacks, including ransomware attacks, cyberespionage attempts, data leaks and cyberscams last year.
Based on statistics from Cybersecurity Malaysia (CSM), 4,741 cases of cyberthreats were reported in the country last year.
This year, 456 fraud cases were recorded as of February.
“The National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) received a total of 3,482 genuine calls recording losses of RM27mil for January and February this year alone,” she said after launching #BeCyberSmart, a cybersecurity campaign, and Protect 360, an all-in-one network security application, here yesterday.
The campaign will feature various initiatives including engagements to reach out to citizens and promote cybersecurity best practices and promote Protect 360 complete security, privacy and identity protection on devices as well as protection against malware, phishing and hacking attempts.
Teo said the NSRC, which was established in October last year as a command centre to coordinate rapid response for online financial scams, received over 4,000 calls each month but not all calls were genuine.
“Cyberattacks can have very damaging consequences for individuals, businesses and governments alike, ranging from financial losses to personal information breaches and even disruption of essential services,” she added.
She said the government recognised the critical significance of cybersecurity and cybercrime and was looking to implement multiple initiatives aimed at protecting its citizens and national security.
“This commitment is reflected in Budget 2023 where RM10mil was allocated to the NSRC to upgrade equipment and start a campaign to raise awareness as well as promote its 997 hotline,” she added. — Bernama
