Malaysia - A Prime Target for Cyber Attacks (Page 1)

By Bjorn Engelhardt, Vice President, Symantec Hosted Services, Asia Pacific & Japan


Emails have long been the preferred tool of cybercriminals who aim to infiltrate and carry threats into the hearts of both businesses and individuals. But with advances in technology and the presence of more intelligent anti-spam technology and filters, cybercriminals are turning towards using the web as a malware delivery platform.

Malware mechanisms generally operate on the premise of wanting to steal data or track behaviour. Technological developments have allowed cybercriminals to encrypt malware into legitimate websites that get downloaded onto their victim’s computer unnoticed. This threat is perhaps the most pervasive and malicious form of cybercrime as the malware can remain dormant and undetected until the victim visits certain websites or conducts certain online activities before becoming active and carrying out an activity logging or session hijacking attack.

Companies in Malaysia have not been spared the onslaught of cyber crime. As individual nations within Asia continue to develop and grow in affluence, they also become prime targets for cybercriminals and their arsenal of criminal activities.

Malaysia – an increasingly popular target for cyber crime
Malaysia has been a centre for trade for many centuries and continues to thrive as a business hub even today. With well-developed infrastructure in industries such as bioengineering, military engineering and pharmaceuticals, the country is poised to attract foreign investments from global conglomerates. Leveraging on the country’s resources in terms of its workforce, growing economy and its strategic geographical location, many multinational corporations consider Malaysia an ideal location to set up their regional offices in.

Cybercriminals are aware of the growing presence of Malaysia within the APJ region as a nucleus for foreign trade and investment and continue to target the country with their constantly evolving array of scams and deceptions.

There is no partiality when cybercriminals select their targets. Businesses of any size – both big and small – can become a victim of cyber crime and any victim can end up paying a heavy price as a result of falling prey. The consequences of a successful cyber attack can be monumental. From the loss of funds to the leakage of sensitive information to compromised intellectual property that could lead to industrial espionage, the repercussions of a single, successful cyber attack could result in irrevocable damage for any business.