Ensure protection of personal data

IN February it was reported that the personal health data of tens of thousands of patients were stolen by hackers. CAP had written to the authorities to ask how they plan to handle the incident. The reply stated that no such incident had occurred and that all our cyber security measures were in place.
If what they claim is true, why do these personal data breaches keep happening?
Whenever someone questions the whole business of "going online", the answer is that it must be done to keep up with developed countries. While it is true we do not want to be left behind, have we perhaps jumped the gun?
Does Malaysia have the right and effective cyber security measures in place? Do the authorities employ white hat hackers to look for weaknesses in cyber security, etc? It is not enough to be tech savvy or IT trained.
The attacks on our privacy and safety via personal data theft has gotten out of hand. CAP urges the authorities to:
» Track and trace the hackers, companies and others who sell and buy stolen personal data and punish them accordingly.
» Check to ensure that all bodies using digital transactions have the necessary and latest security measures in place. Especially banks, government department and hospitals.
» Make updates mandatory so that companies will have the best online security measures.
» Have CyberSecurity Malaysia certify, check and monitor the cyber security measures taken by all bodies using online transactions and keeping massive databases of personal information.
S. M. Mohamed Idris
President
Consumers Association of Penang