WORLD BACKUP DAY: SAFEGUARD YOUR DATA FROM FESTIVE SEASON CYBER THREATS - FORTINET

By Anas Abu Hassan

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Businesses and consumers in Malaysia are warned of heightened cybersecurity risks amid a surge in online scams and cyber threats, especially during the festive Hari Raya season, global cybersecurity firm Fortinet said.

Fortinet Southeast Asia senior director Peerapong Jongvibool believed rising e-commerce activities during the period present a lucrative opportunity for cybercriminals to exploit unsuspecting victims through various digital frauds and malicious attacks.

He emphasised that companies and individuals must prioritise data protection and backup strategies, with extra precaution, particularly during the festive season, to mitigate potential losses from cyber intrusions and ensure business continuity.

“During festive seasons, cybercriminals distribute malware through fake shopping websites, malicious email attachments, and malvertising (malicious advertising), often disguised as holiday promotions or discount coupons -- once installed, it can steal personal information, compromise banking credentials, or even act as a backdoor for more severe cyberattacks.

“Fraudulent shopping websites also pose a major risk as cybercriminals use ‘typosquatting’ (URL hijacking) techniques to create fake e-commerce sites that closely resemble legitimate retailers, tricking consumers into entering their credit card details,” he told Bernama in a written interview in conjunction with World Backup Day 2025.

Observed annually on March 31, World Backup Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of backing up data and digital assets for both individuals and businesses.

Peerapong advised individuals and businesses to remain vigilant, verify website authenticity, adopt proactive cybersecurity measures such as using multi-factor authentication (MFA), keep software updated, and avoid suspicious links or attachments.

Protection for online banking, e-wallet transactions

In addition, he said digital transactions via e-wallets and online banking have become the preferred method for festive shopping and gifting.

“However, cybercriminals exploit security gaps at various stages of a transaction, from the user’s device to the merchant’s platform and even at the payment gateway.

“The most prevalent threats include phishing attacks, malware (malicious software), and social engineering scams, where attackers manipulate users into unknowingly granting access to their financial information,” he noted.

To that end, Peerapong told users to enable MFA for all digital banking and e-wallet accounts -- transactions should only be made on secure, legitimate platforms.

“Look for a padlock icon in the browser address bar and ensure URLs (uniform resource locator) begin with ‘https://’. Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages claiming to be from banks or payment providers.

“For businesses, deploying artificial intelligence-driven fraud detection systems can help monitor real-time transactions and flag suspicious activities.

“Strengthening endpoint security, cloud security, and access controls is also essential to protect customer data from cyber threats,” he added. 

-- BERNAMA