Recently, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that losses suffered by Malaysians due to online scams have reached RM1.5 billion throughout 2024, and RM5 billion in losses were recorded from 2020 to 2024.
As part of that, Kaspersky Labs recently released the Kaspersky Security Bulletin 2024 report which showed that Malaysia experienced 27.9 million online threats throughout 2024 that were detected and blocked by the security company.
The report said that Malaysia is now in 30th place for the country with the highest number of cyber attacks in the world, showing an increase of around four percent compared to the previous year.
Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager of Kaspersky Labs Southeast Asia, said that the data presented by Kaspersky Labs shows that online attack vectors are now very complex and require individuals, businesses and governments to always ensure that cybersecurity best practices are always maintained to reduce the likelihood of their data being stolen.
Malaysia is currently the coordinator of the ASEAN Regional Computer Emergency Response Team (ASEAN CERT) which will try to develop a more comprehensive and resilient digital security ecosystem for these countries.
Malaysia is also in the process of joining the Budapest Convention and the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime as the country's commitment in combating cybercrime threats.
For Malaysians, Kaspersky Labs' recommendation is for you to activate built-in cybersecurity features such as using strong passphrases, activating two-factor authentication if available, and not opening messages or links from unknown individuals to ensure your digital security.