Almost 40% of Malaysia’s organisational cyberattacks in 2023 targeted the manufacturing and government sectors, reports Ensign InfoSecurity, Asia’s largest cybersecurity service provider.
In its Cyber Threat Landscape Report shared with us, Ensign identified manufacturing, government, and technology, media, and telecommunications as the top three targeted sectors. Following these were the professional services and retail sectors.
Ensign noted that more than 58% of observed cyber incidents were motivated by ransom, making it the primary goal of cyber threat actors.
“Hacktivism was highlighted as a significant threat to organisations, as a spillover from geopolitical conflicts in other regions,” the report stated.
The report highlighted Malaysia’s appeal as a destination for multinational companies relocating high-tech manufacturing businesses.
However, it pointed out that these companies are attractive targets for cybercriminals due to several factors: valuable data such as contracts, supplier details, trade secrets, and personal information; the operation of continuously running machinery, where disruptions could impact safety or business operations; and generally lower cyber hygiene compared to more tightly regulated industries.
Similarly, the government sector holds valuable data, including information on national security, citizens, and public services, making it a lucrative target for cyber threats.
“With growing interests and fragmentation in geopolitics, government agencies will continue to face increased targeting for political leverage,” the report said.
Ensign InfoSecurity Malaysia general manager, Chee Yee Cheng, emphasised the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to cybersecurity in essential sectors like manufacturing and government, given the marked increase in targeted attacks.
