Latest news with #CyberSecurityMalaysia
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
INTERACTIVE: Fake or fact? Only three in 10 Malaysians verify info online
PETALING JAYA: Scams, hoaxes, and deepfakes are everywhere — but only three out of 10 Malaysians take the effort to verify information online. This means that 70% of people in Malaysia tend to accept what they see online without checking further on the Internet if such information is reliable or not. Such is based on the Statistics Department's survey report on ICT use and access by individuals and households for 2024. This problem could be caused by the lack of digital literacy in our education system, while social media platforms are becoming the top but unregulated sources of information for many, say cybersecurity experts. To make matters worse, there's a 5% increase in cybersecurity incidents from 2023 to last year, with the bulk of cases being online fraud. Nevertheless, there's a bright side - more Malaysians are protecting their devices and online accounts such as by creating strong passwords, limiting access to personal information, among others. Here's an overview of the online habits of Malaysians when it comes to safety, online protection and awareness. Click on the arrow buttons to see the next image: Incidents on the rise It's not helping that there was a spike in cybersecurity cases from 5,917 in 2023 to 6,209 last year, based on incidents reported to CyberSecurity Malaysia. Most or 68% of the total cases last year were involving fraud, followed by content-related cybercrimes at 9.3%. Here's a more detailed look at the cases, reported to CyberSecurity Malaysia's incident response centre, Cyber999: CyberSecurity Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab said the low rate of Malaysians verifying information is a big contributing factor to the rise in online fraud and cyber threat incidents. 'Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting this by relying not just on technical attacks, but on manipulating trust, emotions, and misinformation to deceive victims,' he said in an interview. He said it created a fertile environment for cybercriminals to thrive - using methods like social engineering, phishing, fake job offers and investment scams. Amirudin urged the public to verify before sharing with fact-checking platforms like maintained by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Malaysians are also encouraged to cross-check announcements with established media outlets, including The Star. To report any cybersecurity concerns, the public can contact Cyber999 at cyber999@ or call 1-300-88-2999 (office hours) or +6019-266 5850 (24-hour helpline). Are we too trusting? There's also another growing threat - the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to create and spread false material to deceive others. 'Those who do not verify online information face the risk of digital manipulation, a growing national threat in the age of AI-driven content,' says data privacy expert and consultant Luke Raj. One example was the elderly couple misled by a viral AI-generated video on social media promoting a fictional cable car in Ipoh, Perak. The couple, who saw the clip online, reportedly travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Perak only to be told by a hotel worker that the attraction did not exist. Cybersecurity expert Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamed Ridza Wahiddin said this phenomenon is expected to continue and even intensify, as the quality and accessibility of AI tools improve rapidly. 'It will indeed become more difficult to tell what is real from fake as AI technology advances,' said Mohamed Ridza, who was with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. To address this, CyberSecurity Malaysia's Amirudin said more could be done to invest in tools to detect and trace AI-generated media. 'However, detection alone is not enough, public awareness and digital literacy remain critical pillars in preventing the viral spread of misleading content,' he added. On why many Malaysians do not verify online information, Luke said our education system has yet to provide more focus on digital literacy among students. 'At the same time, elderly and rural communities remain isolated from fact-checking tools and training,' he said. Another reason was that social media and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and TikTok were becoming the dominant sources of information, enabling fake news and hoaxes to be spread easily and widely. It was reported that the government was considering whether to make it a requirement to label AI-generated content to address the misuse of AI, such as scams, defamation and identity impersonation, especially on social media platforms. Penangites are most sceptical Across states, people in Penang had the highest percentage of those who verified the reliability of information found online at 38.7%. This was followed by residents in Putrajaya (38.2%), Kuala Lumpur (37.7%) and Selangor (37.1%), based on data last year. States which recorded the lowest rate were Sabah at 20.5% and Sarawak at 21.5%. Experts believe that the more urbanised an area, the higher the percentage of residents who took the step to check the sources of information online. Mohamed Ridza said residents in urban areas generally have higher incomes and better access to education, which correlates with greater digital literacy and cautious online behaviour. 'Urban states also benefit from better infrastructure not only for Internet but also for media and education, supporting a more informed population,' he said. On the bright side The good news is that most Malaysians are practising good online habits such as by protecting their devices and online accounts with strong passwords and login attempt notifications. Some 80% of people in Malaysia set up these effective measures to protect devices and online accounts, based on the data. Putrajaya was the state which practised this the best, having the highest percentage of residents who took such steps at 92.9%. The federal territory also emerged tops when it comes to changing privacy settings on devices, accounts or apps to limit the sharing of personal data such as a person's name, contact information and photos. Putrajaya had the highest percentage of users who protected their privacy online at 85%, followed by Johor at 83.8% and Selangor at 83.7%. Meanwhile, Selangor had the largest percentage of residents who were aware of cybercrimes like hacking, phishing, cyberbullying and catfishing. We can do more To better safeguard Malaysians online, digital literacy could be included in school lessons while more measures to proactively prevent scams could be done. 'Malaysia must embed digital literacy into the national education syllabus, from primary to tertiary levels not as an ICT subject, but as a cross-disciplinary civic skill,' urged Luke. He said our country should also launch national campaigns targeting WhatsApp, TikTok, and YouTube to raise awareness on misinformation. Efforts should include supporting detection of AI in viral content which spreads fake news. 'Malaysia can leverage MyDigital ID initiatives by integrating them with fraud alerts, fact-check nudges, and public safety notifications,' Luke suggested. He also called on companies that offer software applications to ensure that anti-virus and anti-malware protection is integrated into their apps. 'This is especially important for mobile users, who are increasingly targeted by hackers through malicious links, fake apps, and data theft,' he said. But ultimately, Malaysians must change for the better when it comes to being more vigilant online. 'Verifying content before sharing must become a norm, not a niche practice. 'Digital skepticism should not be viewed as distrust, but as a civic virtue,' Luke said. He also hoped families will protect the elderly and children by educating them about the potential dangers online. 'In an era where AI-generated deception can travel faster than truth, the only true firewall is a critical, informed society,' Luke added. Here are a few things Malaysians can do to wise up online, based on advice from the experts in this article: Cybersecurity tips - Verify info online by Meikeng
Barnama
15-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
CSM Drafting Enforcement Strategy To Boost Digital Trust
KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) is in the final stages of developing an enforcement strategy focused on building digital trust and enhancing data safety, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. He said the final draft of the strategy was presented to him last week and would be brought to the Cabinet this year for further input and approval. 'One of the key focus areas is the development of an ecosystem centred on digital trust,' he told reporters after launching the ASEAN 5G & OT Security Summit (5GOT) here today.
The Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Cybersecurity Malaysia drafts enforcement strategy to boost digital trust
KUALA LUMPUR: CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) is finalising an enforcement strategy aimed at strengthening digital trust and improving data safety, according to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. The strategy, now in its final draft stage, was presented to the minister last week and will be submitted to the Cabinet for further input and approval this year. Gobind highlighted that a key focus of the strategy is creating an ecosystem centred on digital trust. He emphasised the importance of establishing a dedicated enforcement agency to ensure the effectiveness of these measures. 'Having measures in place without a proper enforcement mechanism would be ineffective,' he said during a press conference after launching the ASEAN 5G & OT Security Summit (5GOT). The minister noted that the final decision on the enforcement framework will rest with the Cabinet. 'But that will be something for the Cabinet to decide as we move along,' he added. - Bernama
The Star
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Digital Ministry to propose cyber security enforcement strategy to Cabinet
KUALA LUMPUR: The Digital Ministry will present a cyber security enforcement strategy to the Cabinet, says Minister Gobind Singh. Prepared by CyberSecurity Malaysia, the strategy includes a proposal for a dedicated enforcement agency to implement existing laws effectively. "We need to have an agency that will be able to enforce the measures under the existing laws because if you have measures alone but there is no one to enforce it, then that's going to be a problem. "However, that will be something for the Cabinet to decide as we move along," he told reporters after launching the Asean 5GOT Security Summit 2025 here on Tuesday (July 15). Gobind added that while CyberSecurity Malaysia has the capacity, the Cabinet will be consulted on the decision to empower specific agencies by this year. "We have Cyber Security Malaysia, they have the capacity," he added. He said that various ministries will be engaged over the matters, including the Home Ministry, Communications Ministry, and the Law and Institutional Reform Ministry. "It's important to get feedback from Cabinet. We are also taking steps to engage with the industry and experts. I think that will be very helpful in us shaping how we design our strategies, including towards enforcement, and we prepare the country for the challenge of building a trusted digital ecosystem moving ahead," he added. Gobind also said that his ministry is set to table the Cybercrime Bill 2025 to Parliament in October. Asked about the details of the Bill, he said that the proposed law will be able to deal with cyber threats more effectively amidst technological advances. It was reported that the Bill would replace the outdated Computer Crimes Act 1997.
New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Gobind: Malaysia must act now to plug cybersecurity gaps
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must urgently address gaps in policy, tools, talent, and cross-border enforcement to strengthen its cybersecurity resilience and manage varying levels of readiness across organisations and nations, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said. He said the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, with daily life now deeply tied to digital platforms such as communication, shopping, and accessing public services. He added that for digital transformation to truly flourish, trust is a fundamental element that cannot be overlooked. "Digital trust is the unwavering confidence we place in our digital systems, technologies, and transactions," he said in his speech at the Asean 5G and OT Security Summit (5GOT) 2025 here today. "We believe they are secure, private, and reliable. It is the invisible yet powerful force that underpins our digital interactions. However, many have taken our systems, technologies, and transactions for granted." Gobind said society's growing reliance on conducting transactions online has encouraged bad actors to exploit this digital presence. He highlighted an alarming surge in cyberattacks affecting all layers of society, from individuals to organisations, across sectors and sizes. "We read and hear about Malaysians falling victim to online scams, fake investment schemes, and phishing attacks. "According to CyberSecurity Malaysia, there were more than 6,000 reported cyber incidents in 2024, mainly involving fraud, intrusions, and malicious codes. "Malaysia incurred over RM1.22 billion in financial losses due to cybercrime over the past year. "But such incidents are not unique to Malaysia. The world faces this massive threat as well, resulting in trillions of dollars in losses annually," he said. Gobind also said the consequences of cyberattacks go far beyond financial losses, as they damage reputations, compromise privacy, destroy property, eliminate opportunities, and in some cases, even endanger lives. He added that attacks on operational technology, which powers automation in factories, manages patient care in hospitals, and runs critical infrastructure such as energy grids and water treatment facilities, are increasingly being targeted by sophisticated threat actors. Nevertheless, Gobind said Malaysia has taken decisive steps to strengthen its cybersecurity landscape over the past years. He highlighted that the Cyber Security Act 2024, which came into force on Aug 26 last year, empowers the National Cyber Security Agency to oversee compliance, coordinate across sectors, and protect the country's National Critical Information Infrastructures. He also said a new Cybercrime Bill, set to be tabled in Parliament this October, aims to replace outdated legislation and equip authorities with the tools needed to combat modern cyber threats effectively. Furthermore, Gobind said Malaysia is expanding its global footprint, noting that the Cabinet has approved accession to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. "The country is also preparing to sign the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi this October. "These actions reflect Malaysia's commitment to international norms and collaborative efforts in addressing cybercrime. "As such, platforms such as 5GOT must be leveraged to accelerate progress through expert engagement, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and exposure to emerging technologies," he said. Gobind also said the government aims to build a regional cyber ecosystem through public-private partnerships that foster innovation and talent development. He added that the government hopes to raise awareness and a sense of urgency among key stakeholders in securing the country's digital future.
