Cyber Crimes On The Rise
19th September 2006 (Bernama)

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- A total of 51 cases of cyber crimes involving business transactions were handled by the National ICT Security and Emergency Response Centre (Niser) until June this year compared to 47 causes throughout last year.

The cases involved falsifying documents and sabotaging information technology operations, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Datuk Dr Mohd Ruddin Abdul Ghani told the Dewan Rakyat, Tuesday.

Responding to Lau Yeng Peng (BN-Puchong) who asked for statistics on cyber crimes in the country involving business transactions and government services from 2005, he said the figures on computer security intrusions from 2005 until the second quarter of 2006 were:

• 662 cases in business transactions involving (.com and .net),
• 42 cases involving non-governmental organisations (.org),
• 79 cases involving institutions of higher learning (.edu), and
• 129 cases involving government agencies.

Mohd Ruddin said most of the cases involving businesses were website defacement and cheating through a technique known as phishing (milking other people's money after fraudulently obtaining their password and credit details).

To Lau's question on the government's readiness to implement the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Terrorism (Impact), he said the government was having discussions with the relevant agencies and consultants to map out its implementation and operational concept.

He said initially the consultants would hold discussions with industry players to seek their cooperation on the matter and organise a global conference on cyber security in the first quarter of next year.

"Impact would then focus on four main activities - - training and skills development, security certification, research and development, and global emergency response."