Local businesses still vulnerable to cyber threats

PETALING JAYA: The local business landscape is still vulnerable to cyber threats as Malaysia's internet security profile declined last year and ranked 33rd among 157 countries globally compared with 35th in 2012, says Symantec Malaysia Systems Engineering Director, Nigel Tan.
"This is a clear indication that cyber criminals have not slowed down. In fact, they are increasing the efficiency of their campaigns and have their eye on small and medium enterprises," he told reporters at the presentation of Symantec's 2014 Internet Security Threat Report, volume 19.
Tan said non-traditional services were the top targeted attacks with 58.97%, followed by professional services (17.95%), finance, insurance and real estate (15.38%) and retail (2.56%).
Symantec Asia South Region Vice President, Eric Hoh Yau Siong, said the level of sophistication continued to grow among cyber attackers and they were waiting to strike when the rewards were bigger and better.
"Cyber criminals are constantly innovating and enhancing their modes of attacks, which companies globally and in Malaysia cannot afford to let their guards down," he said.
The report said total number of breaches globally last year surged 62% compared with 2012.
There were 253 data breach cases, and more than 522 million identities exposed, which proved that cyber crimes remained a real and damaging threats to consumers and business, he said.
He said healthcare, education and government sectors accounted for 58% of all data breaches.
Six global key trends that were identified in the report are data breach, targeted attacks, vulnerabilities, ransomware, mobile and social media and internet of things, he said. – Bernama