Malaysia's Tier One Status Marks Significant Cyber Resilience Progress

CYBERJAYA, March 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's achievement of being ranked in Tier One of the Global Cybersecurity Index last year highlights the nation's significant progress in strengthening its cyber resilience.

BlackBerry Asia-Pacific’s (APAC) senior director of strategic technical sales Jonathan Jackson said this achievement reflects proactive efforts by the government to safeguard the country’s digital infrastructure.

However, Jackson said such recognition also makes Malaysia a prime target for cybercriminals, who are increasingly focused on high-value targets.

Despite the risks, Jackson commended the government’s efforts to minimise vulnerabilities.

“It shows that Malaysia has taken amazingly proactive steps to improve the cyber resilience of the country. But it’s also concerning because it paints a target on its back,” he said during a media roundtable here today.

Last December, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) introduced the Guidelines on Information and Network Security for the Communications and Multimedia Industry (INSG) to enhance the information and network security and resiliency of the communications and multimedia industry in the country.

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Echoing Jackson, MCMC’s commissioner of online harms and network security committee, Derek John Fernandez emphasised the need for Malaysians to adopt basic yet effective cybersecurity habits to protect their devices.

These practices, collectively known as "phone hygiene", are crucial in reducing vulnerabilities that cybercriminals might exploit, Fernandez said.

“One of the simplest yet most effective measures is to switch off mobile phones at night. This prevents unauthorised access when the device is not in use as leaving these settings on increases the chances of exposure to potential cyber threats,” he added.

Fernandez said regularly rebooting phones also helps ensure system integrity and close any backdoors hackers might attempt to access, while installing antivirus software and consistently updating devices can close security gaps and prevent malicious software from infiltrating the system.

Therefore, he said, more comprehensive protection needs to be enhanced to curb cybercrime, including the proposal to introduce a “48-hour cooling-off period” for financial transactions as a preventive measure.

“These precautions come as part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness about cybersecurity among the general public, as more individuals rely on mobile devices for personal and business communications.

“Cybercriminals are continuously evolving their tactics, making it essential for users to take proactive steps to protect themselves,” he added.

-- BERNAMA