Cyber security remains a major concern in Malaysia and it is encouraging that more Malaysians are aware of avoiding fake websites or infected links, Kaspersky said. — Bernama photo
KUCHING: Cyber security remains a top concern in Malaysia and it is encouraging that more Malaysians are aware of avoiding fake websites or infected links, Kaspersky said.
In 2019, about 13,000 cases of cybercrime were reported, and by February 2022, there were already 3,273 reported cases. Cybercriminals are also constantly on the lookout for victims, and the country’s top leaders are not spared.
According to Kaspersky Security Network (KSN), the second quarter of 2012 saw a downward trend in web threats, compared to the same period last year to 11 million and 28.9 million respectively. The improvement showed that Malaysians are generally more aware of avoiding fake websites or infected links shared via SMS, email and even phone calls.
Local threats also improved with fewer detected attacks in the second quarter of 2022 on malware spread via removable USB drives, to 5.6 million.
“It is an encouraging sign that Malaysians are returning to work, to schools and are able to return to their normal daily lives.
“The KSN data illustrated an important development for Malaysia, as we know that the traditional awareness of cyber threats is now greater.
“We believe that users are more careful about which links to click and which not to. But still, consciousness and action are two different things.
“We urge everyone to install security apps on their mobile devices that play a key role in providing a safety net against these widespread social engineering attacks like identity theft,” said Kaspersky Southeast Asia General Manager Yeo Siang Tiong.
It also highlighted that Cybersecurity Malaysia has raised concerns about online safety with a new baseline study to assess the level of online safety awareness among students and parents. The exponential increase in online activity, especially among students, could potentially put them at risk of cyber security threats.
The cyber security body said it is crucial to develop a digitally resilient generation that can defend itself against cyber attacks.
A baseline study of cyber security awareness among students and parents 2021/2022 shares the same finding as Kaspersky that WhatsApp and YouTube are among their preferred services.
Cybersecurity Malaysia also emphasized that there is no such thing as 100 percent security, as a strong country or organization would be the target of an attack for some time.
“We agree with Cybersecurity Malaysia that no one is safe from cyber threats, so we should work together as stated in the theme of Merdeka this year. For our part, our team is constantly educating our customers, partners and the public about the latest cyber threats and trends to ensure that everyone can use technology and stay safe online,” added Yeo.
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