Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – In the face of the ongoing data security threats across the country, the latest report from CyberSecurity Malaysia highlighted a significant 1,192% increase in data thefts in 2023, showing a notable rise from 50 cases in 2022.
In this report, the organisation indicated a total of 646 data thefts last year, as specified by the reports received through its Cyber999 helpline. There were also 5,917 cyber security incidents, with 3,705 cases of scams or fraud last year, according to their website.
Furthermore, they have also found that even in the first three months of 2024, around 142 cases of data theft were reported out of 1,555 cyber security incidents. The majority of these incidents, in particular, involved fraud, with cases garnering an average of 1,025.
According to a statement reported by the New Straits Times, CSM has also advised organisations and internet users to implement safety measures to further prevent data breaches, particularly those concerning personally identifiable information.
These data breaches involved email and application credentials that are used to access emails and applications like WordPress and File Transfer Protocols.
CSM also emphasised the importance of protecting sensitive data to safeguard personal and business secrets, in addition to complying with the law and ethical codes. They further advised other organisations to enhance their cyber security capabilities to prevent data breaches, while users were urged to adhere to cybersecurity best practices.
Specifically, they suggested users avoid opening emails from unknown senders and exercise caution when purchasing items online or when using social media.
Following the report, a statement by CyberSecurity Malaysia notes, “PIIs can be obtained from websites that have been hacked, and this data can be distributed and sold openly in forums. Users should check the legitimacy of the applications, portals, traders, products, and services before carrying out any online transactions.”
