CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) received reports of a total of 646 data theft incidents last year, marking a staggering 1,192% increase from the 50 cases documented in 2022.
Among the 5,917 cyber security incidents reported to CSM, an agency under the Digital Ministry, data thefts comprised a significant portion. Scams constituted the majority of cases (3,705), followed by data breaches, according to NST.
In the initial three months of 2024, CSM received reports of 142 data breaches. This upward trajectory in data breaches is anticipated to persist unless proactive measures are implemented to combat cybercrime.
CSM emphasised the importance for organisations and internet users to adopt precautionary measures to thwart data breaches, particularly those pertaining to Personally Identifiable Information (PII), which encompasses personal details like names, MyKad numbers, addresses, contact numbers, and income.
CSM highlighted that PIIs are often obtained from compromised websites and subsequently traded in online forums, frequently using cryptocurrency for transactions. Various forms of data breaches include unauthorised access to email and application credentials such as “WordPress” and File Transfer Protocols (FTPs).
The severity of data breaches varies depending on the nature of the breach, the type of data compromised, and the number of individuals affected, which can range from a few individuals to thousands.
CSM advised users to verify the authenticity of applications, websites, merchants, products, and services before proceeding with any online transactions, stressing the importance of vigilance in the digital realm.
