CyberSecurity Malaysia’s (CSM) Cyber999 Cyber Incident Response Center reported 3,837 cyber security incidents between January and August of this year and the top four incidents are fraud (2,400 cases), intrusion (396 cases), content-related issues (378 cases), and malicious code (359 cases).
Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching emphasised the need to improve public awareness among Malaysian internet users, as cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to perpetrate cyber threats, resulting in data breaches and financial losses, according to Bernama news report.
Teo stressed the importance of prioritising digital safety in the education system, given the potential risks like scams and identity theft posed by the internet in Malaysia’s transition to an information-centric society.
She praised events like the 10th National ICT Security Discourse (NICTSeD) CyberSAFE Challenge Trophy 2023 for fostering critical thinking, knowledge acquisition, creativity, innovation, and cyber security awareness among students.
The NICTSeD, launched in 2013, has evolved from a national ICT security debate competition for secondary schools into a crucial platform for raising awareness and promoting cyber security in Malaysia.
Teo also advocated for a holistic approach to cyber resilience, encouraging the entire community to adopt best cyber security practices and engage in continuous learning, collaboration, and information sharing.
Additionally, she urged the government and the cyber security industry to invest in research and development, incident response planning, regulatory compliance, and international cooperation.
General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dr. Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, Chairman of the Board of Directors at CSM, highlighted the rapid evolution of AI, particularly Generative AI, and its positive impact on various industries.
However, he cautioned that this same technology can be exploited by cybercriminals for sophisticated social engineering and cyberattacks.
