From targeted attacks to ransomware, security firm Symantec Malaysia predicts another challenging year in cyber security. THE New Year is only three days away, but the Sony Pictures hacking fiasco does not seem like it is going to abate before the countdown. Not that it is any surprise for the security firms which have been busy looking into their crystal balls since April, when some servers and websites were cracked open by the Heartbleed bug, causing a massive leak of sensitive data. As software security firm Symantec Malaysia warns, the prominent data leaks of 2014 would keep cyber security in the spotlight in the new year. “In 2015, attackers will continue to look for new vulnerabilities so that they can ‘hack the planet’,” says Nigel Tan, Symantec Malaysia’s director of systems engineering. With the growth of e-commerce and Internet banking in the region, there is fear that cyber criminals will target Asia next year. But says Tan, the interconnected nature of a global Internet and cloud infrastructure means everyone, everywhere, is vulnerable. “Cyber criminals don’t discriminate when it comes to vulnerabilities. They go across the board but as they are opportunists, they will go where it is easy and has the biggest reward.” The increased use of mobile devices in the region, including Malaysia (which has a 140% mobile penetration) will make them even more attractive targets for cyber attackers. And as mobile carriers and retail stores transition to mobile payments, a wealth of personal and confidential information is expected to be stored in the mobile devices. Another weak link in the protection of mobile devices is users’ willingness to sacrifice privacy in exchange for apps. “While many Internet users are reluctant to share banking and personal identifiable information online, they are willing to share information about their location, access to photos, contact lists and fitness information for free mobile apps.” Of course, there are those who are genuinely unaware of the dangers. Norton Research has shown that while some Millennials think they know what they are allowing access to, the reality is they have very little idea of what they are agreeing to when it comes to trading information for apps.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 23:18:16 +0000