Latest news with #Jetton
The Sun
20-05-2025
- The Sun
Phishing and online scams dominate global cybercrime landscape
KUALA LUMPUR: Online scams and phishing remain the most prevalent global cyber threats, with criminals leveraging increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims, said INTERPOL's Cybercrime Directorate Dr Neal Jetton. He said most cybercrimes observed across Asia and globally stem from social engineering attacks, such as phishing, ransomware and business email compromise scams. 'Phishing-related scams are likely the most widespread cyber threat today, not just in Malaysia or the Asia Pacific, but globally. 'These often involve emails or messages that appear legitimate, whether for romantic, business, or financial opportunities,' he said at a press conference after the opening of the inaugural Cyber Games 2025 today. Jetton, who is based in Singapore, stressed that cybercrime is both a regional and global challenge, noting that approximately 75 to 80 percent of cyber incidents worldwide involve a human element, most commonly through phishing. Phishing is a form of cyberattack in which criminals impersonate trusted sources via emails or messages to deceive individuals into disclosing sensitive information, such as passwords, financial credentials, or personal data. The urgency of the issue is evident in Malaysia's statistics, with ransomware incidents rising by a staggering 78 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the increasing complexity and scale of cyber threats locally. When asked about Malaysia's capacity to tackle such threats, Jetton commended the Royal Malaysian Police for their dedication and proactive efforts in combating cybercrime. 'I've had several interactions with Malaysian police, and I can speak very positively about their efforts. Cybercrime in general is just very difficult,' he said. He added that INTERPOL continues to work closely with Malaysia and expressed hope that this collaboration will further strengthen in future efforts to combat cybercrime. Jetton highlighted artificial intelligence (AI) and encrypted technologies as key areas of concern, noting that law enforcement agencies often face challenges in keeping up with the fast-evolving tools employed by cybercriminals. 'My team focuses a lot on how we can keep up with these technologies, though we're not necessarily the subject matter experts in AI to help us respond effectively,' he said.
The Star
20-05-2025
- The Star
Phishing, online scams dominate global cybercrime landscape, says Interpol
KUALA LUMPUR: Online scams and phishing remain the most prevalent global cyber threats, with criminals leveraging increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims, said Interpol's cybercrime directorate Dr Neal Jetton. He said most cybercrimes observed across Asia and globally stem from social engineering attacks, such as phishing, ransomware and business email compromise scams. "Phishing-related scams are likely the most widespread cyber threat today, not just in Malaysia or the Asia Pacific, but globally. "These often involve emails or messages that appear legitimate, whether for romantic, business, or financial opportunities," he said at a press conference after the opening of the inaugural Cyber Games 2025 on Tuesday (May 20). Jetton, who is based in Singapore, stressed that cybercrime was both a regional and global challenge, noting that approximately 75 to 80 per cent of cyber incidents worldwide involve a human element, most commonly through phishing. Phishing is a form of cyberattack in which criminals impersonate trusted sources via emails or messages to deceive individuals into disclosing sensitive information, such as passwords, financial credentials, or personal data. The urgency of the issue is evident in Malaysia's statistics, with ransomware incidents rising by a staggering 78 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the increasing complexity and scale of cyber threats locally. When asked about Malaysia's capacity to tackle such threats, Jetton commended the Royal Malaysia Police for their dedication and proactive efforts in combating cybercrime. "I've had several interactions with Malaysian police, and I can speak very positively about their efforts. Cybercrime in general is just very difficult,' he said. He added that Interpol continues to work closely with Malaysia and expressed hope that this collaboration will further strengthen in future efforts to combat cybercrime. Jetton highlighted artificial intelligence (AI) and encrypted technologies as key areas of concern, noting that law enforcement agencies often face challenges in keeping up with the fast-evolving tools employed by cybercriminals. "My team focuses a lot on how we can keep up with these technologies, though we're not necessarily the subject matter experts in AI to help us respond effectively," he said.- Bernama
Barnama
20-05-2025
- Barnama
Phishing And Online Scams Dominate Global Cybercrime Landscape
INTERPOL's Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, Dr Neal Jetton, speaks at a press conference after officiating the opening of Cyber Games 2025 today. KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Online scams and phishing remain the most prevalent global cyber threats, with criminals leveraging increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims, said INTERPOL's Cybercrime Directorate Dr Neal Jetton. He said most cybercrimes observed across Asia and globally stem from social engineering attacks, such as phishing, ransomware and business email compromise scams. "Phishing-related scams are likely the most widespread cyber threat today, not just in Malaysia or the Asia Pacific, but globally. 'These often involve emails or messages that appear legitimate, whether for romantic, business, or financial opportunities," he said at a press conference after the opening of the inaugural Cyber Games 2025 today. Jetton, who is based in Singapore, stressed that cybercrime is both a regional and global challenge, noting that approximately 75 to 80 percent of cyber incidents worldwide involve a human element, most commonly through phishing. Phishing is a form of cyberattack in which criminals impersonate trusted sources via emails or messages to deceive individuals into disclosing sensitive information, such as passwords, financial credentials, or personal data. The urgency of the issue is evident in Malaysia's statistics, with ransomware incidents rising by a staggering 78 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the increasing complexity and scale of cyber threats locally. When asked about Malaysia's capacity to tackle such threats, Jetton commended the Royal Malaysian Police for their dedication and proactive efforts in combating cybercrime. 'I've had several interactions with Malaysian police, and I can speak very positively about their efforts. Cybercrime in general is just very difficult,' he said.
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Interpol: Phishing and AI scams fuel cyber threat surge in Asia
KUALA LUMPUR: Online scams, phishing, ransomware, and malware continue to be the most prevalent cyber threats across Asia, according to Interpol's Cybercrime Directorate. Its director Dr Neal Jetton said phishing scams — often disguised as legitimate communications related to relationships, business deals or financial opportunities — had become the leading form of cybercrime globally. "These scams are not confined to Malaysia or the Asia-Pacific region alone — they represent a global epidemic. In many instances, cybercriminals operating in one part of the world are targeting victims on entirely different continents," he said during the Cyber Games 2025 press conference held here today. He said that about 75 to 80 per cent of cybercrime worldwide involved a human element, with phishing and social engineering comprising the majority of such incidents. "We estimate that roughly 80 per cent of all cybercrime stems from human manipulation — whether through emails, messages, or platforms designed to deceive users into divulging sensitive information," he said. Despite the increasing complexity of cyber threats, Jetton commended Malaysian law enforcement agencies for their commitment and close cooperation with Interpol. "I've had the privilege of working with the Malaysian police and can confidently say they are diligent, progressive, and well-versed in the evolving threat landscape. "Naturally, as with any country — including the US and Singapore — there is always room for more resources. However, Malaysia certainly ranks among the regional leaders in this area," he added. Looking ahead, Jetton said that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), in-game encryption, and other digital tools could be exploited by cybercriminals. "Generative AI, for instance, has the potential to significantly enhance phishing and impersonation scams. Law enforcement agencies often struggle to keep pace with such rapid advances, so close collaboration with private sector experts and academia is essential," he said. He also said Interpol was revitalising its Cybercrime Expert Group — a global platform that will unite specialists from its 196 member countries, including Malaysia. "We are extending invitations to cybercrime experts from law enforcement agencies worldwide to join this initiative. There will be regular virtual meetings and an in-person session later this year. "This initiative offers a crucial opportunity for nations to share intelligence, strengthen partnerships, and collectively tackle the evolving threat of cybercrime," he said.
