NACSA GEARS UP FOR MORE FREQUENT CYBER THREATS NEXT YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) is ready to tackle cyber threats, which are anticipated to become more frequent next year.

Its chief executive Dr Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin said this is due to the obligation of entities under the National Critical Information Infrastructure (NCII) to report any cyber threat incidents as mandated in the Cyber Security Act 2024 (Act 854), which came into force last month.

“However, we do not view the number of reported incidents as an indication of whether we are facing a major threat or not.

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“What is more important is how we control and ensure that any incidents that occur do not have a critical impact on the country and its people,” he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama Radio’s ‘Jendela Fikir: Memperkukuh Keselamatan Siber’ programme today.

He added that the nature of cyber threats has become more complex and sophisticated, even though the number of incidents has decreased annually.

Meanwhile, Megat Zuhairy said that panic could have a significant impact on cyber security, and any report of an incident involving an agency or entity cannot be denied if proven to be true.

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“In this regard, a communication plan is crucial. We need to convey the facts of the incident and take immediate action to prevent a larger impact,” he said.

He also mentioned that Malaysians are still unaware of the importance of practising cyber hygiene in online activities.

“For example, when we sometimes receive SMS or text messages via messaging apps, they may contain phishing links that expose us to cyber threats, including the theft of personal and banking information stored on smartphones.

“That is why we are trying to strengthen awareness programmes in this area,” he added.

-- BERNAMA