Malaysia perlu tingkat waspada ancaman penggodam profesional, kata persatuan

Malaysia must heighten vigilance against professional hacker threats, according to a cybersecurity association. President of the Malaysian Computer and Cyber Association (MCCA) Siraj Jalil warned of foreign-backed groups aiming to breach systems and cripple critical services. Lazarus Group, linked to North Korea, and Russia-linked Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are among groups under scrutiny for international cyberattacks, including financial and cryptocurrency exchange breaches.

The National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) recently upgraded Malaysia's cybersecurity threat level from Low to Simple, reflecting proactive government action to strengthen national digital infrastructure protection. Malaysia's cybersecurity foundation is reportedly growing stronger through collaborations between cybersecurity communities, industry, and government, alongside the enforcement of the Cybersecurity Act 2024.

The country's cybersecurity readiness remains good, with all parties consistently enhancing preparedness for current threats. Siraj emphasized the need for readiness against any possible attacks, even without immediate panic, as threats can originate from individuals, specific groups, or countries using third-party or state-sponsored entities.

Cyberattacks are often not state-sponsored, usually involving anonymous or unknown groups forming attacks against other nations. These attacks also reflect geopolitical conflicts where adversaries use the digital space to target opposing countries' infrastructure and systems. The nation's digital defense headquarters is strengthening joint, proactive coordination among Nacsa, CyberSecurity Malaysia, the police, military, and Personal Data Protection Department.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim previously noted Malaysia's potential target due to its robust digital infrastructure and data centers, alongside the government's standing on key international issues like Palestine and Gaza.