Take More Security Measures: Webhosts told
2nd January 2001 (TheStar)

Kuala Lumpur, Mon.- Administrators of locally hosted websites must take more security measures to prevent them from being hacked, Energy, Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said today.

He said the security aspects of the websites must be given equal priority together with its content. "Prevention is better than cure... a lot of damage can be avoided if measures are taken to tighten security", he said today.

Tan was commenting onthe hacking of two websites - www.parlimen.gov.my and www.utm.my - on Saturday.

Both the parliament and Universiti Teknologi Mara websites had their front pages removed.

The hacker of the Parliament website identified himself as "topeira" while the UTM website hackers claimed to be from the skOrpiOn Crew.

Tan said website administrators must also keep pace withthe rapid changes inthe information and communicarions technology. "People as young as 15 have the capability and know how to create chain viruses and to hack into websites. "They must keep on upgrading their security system if they are serious on maintaining their websites".

Tan was also asked whether the lack of security coould pose a problem to the development and image of the Multimedia Super Corridor. "So far the incidents were isolated ones .... I don't think it is a problem yet".

However, he admitted that the problem could become a menace if not dealt with at this stage itself. On what the ministry was doing to overcome this problem, Tan said the ministry was constantly in touch with relevant government agencies