NEWS: Keeping cyber threats in check

Today, we are blessed with innovative technologies that allow information to be processed and generated at speeds and in ways that are mind-boggling.

Electronic means are commonly used to communicate, do business, pay bills, buy goods and more. Most of these activities are carried out on the go using wireless and mobile technologies.

While such advances have managed to break down geographical barriers and create new ways of communication, one issue remains a concern: the integrity of information. The borderless world has made information systems that hold critical data prone to attacks from outside elements.

Threats that loom in cyberspace should not be underestimated, as not only could they cause problems in the personal and work spaces, but also affect the entire administrative system of a government.

Hamadoun Toure, secretary-general of International Telecommunication Union, has warned on the dangers posed by cyber terrorism, saying it can potentially shut down critical infrastructure. He adds that small groups and even individuals are capable of gaining control of millions of computers that can be used, for instance, to launch denial-of-service attacks on a nation’s critical infrastructure.

And Eugene Kaspersky, founder and chief executive of anti-virus experts Kaspersky Lab, shares that the number of cyber criminals has leapt more than 10-fold since last year. “This means the Internet environment is getting more dangerous. There’s nothing to stop them (cyber criminals).”

That’s why cybersecurity must be the cornerstone of every aspect of keeping the people and the world safe.

With cyber terrorism emerging as a clear and present danger, Malaysia’s proactive stand to combat the menace should be lauded. The Government has approved US$13 million (RM41.6 million) to kick off Impact, or International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Terrorism, which is a global centre to combat cyber terrorism that will provide an emergency response to hi-tech attacks on economies and trading systems around the world.

The centre also will help governments deal with cyber threats and provide training and security certification.

Let’s hope that the setting up of Impact and the combined efforts of governments and relevant parties in the security space will keep cyber terrorism and related menaces in check, and help make the Internet a safer place for work and play.