Datuk Dr Amiruddin Abdul Wahab
Cyberjaya (31 March): Cyber Security Malaysia (CSM) is poised to play a bigger role in strengthening the country’s cyber security once the Malaysia Cyber Security Commission is established.
CSM CEO Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab said the government’s proposal to set up a commission was the right step to improve cybersecurity.
“It will empower the CSM to act as an enforcement agency to handle issues related to cybersecurity, in collaboration with other agencies,” he told Bernama in an interview.
He said this is a good move in the context of strengthening the country’s cybersecurity ecosystem as it ensures that actions taken to control cyberthreats are not merely reactive in nature. I got
The CSM, the national cyber security agency under the Ministry of Communications and Digital, received more than 7,000 reports of cyber security incidents in Malaysia last year. Reports included 4,741 cases of online fraud, 756 cases of data intrusion and hacking, and 23 cases of malicious code.
Through the Commission, Amiruddin said, among other things, take proactive action to ensure that the country’s cyber infrastructure is supported by compliance with data protection standards and regular security audits by relevant authorities. said it can.
“This cannot be done without proactive authority that can prevent security incidents from happening. Auditing an organization can help detect risks from the start,” he added.
Earlier this year, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fazil said the government intended to establish a Malaysian Cyber Security Commission to strengthen Malaysia’s cyber security. The ministry said he will set up a committee in cooperation with relevant agencies such as the CSM.
Providing support services
Mr Amirudin also said that CSM has sufficient expertise in the field of cyber security and has provided enforcement agencies such as the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission with investigations related to cyber security incidents. You mentioned that you often offer support services.
“With its expertise in digital forensics, CSM is empowered to appear in court as a witness or referral expert under Section 399 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,” he said.
Since the CSM (formerly known as the Malaysia Computer Emergency Response Team or MyCERT) operates mainly behind the scenes, several incidents such as MH370 (a Malaysian Airlines aircraft that mysteriously disappeared) Not many people know that a high-profile case called for the agency’s expertise. Invasion of Lahad Datu, Sabah. The tragic murder of Nurin Jazlin Jazimin.
“The public knows about the police, the MCMC…but they don’t know about the CSM because we support[the enforcement agencies]behind the scenes,” Amirudin said.
In connection with CSM’s role in the Lahad Datu case 10 years ago, he analyzed over 100 digital devices such as mobile phones, computers and laptops belonging to intruders for the purpose of producing evidence. said the agency cooperated with
“We had to analyze all the data we extracted from the gadgets. The CSM also made the correlations like who contacted whom. This was not only complicated but also time consuming.
“All relevant data was produced as evidence in court where CSM was called as a witness to present evidence regarding the seized digital devices,” he said.
In MH370, which went missing on its way to Beijing, China on March 8, 2014, digital forensics experts at CSM called authorities to disprove international media theories that the plane’s disappearance was masterminded by its pilot. said Amirudin.
“In fact, even the Chinese authorities have made similar claims[that the pilot was responsible]and submitted data. We had to withdraw it,” he said, adding that CSM’s expertise is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board of Investigation or the FBI.
international standards
However, the CSM was unable to resolve the case involving an eight-year-old girl, Nurin Jazlin, who was found brutally murdered in September 2007 because of the poor quality of cable television recordings made in court. as important evidence.
Meanwhile, Amiruddin said Malaysia consistently ranks among the world’s top 10 in the Global Cyber Security Index.
“What is unique is that since 2014, most of the contributions[to the rankings]have come from CSM. We are in the top three in the region,” he added.
He said the CSM’s success is due, among other things, to its achievements, recognition and engagement at the international level, including chairing the Asia-Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team for the fifth time this year.
“CSM is also recognized by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) as a partner in the field of cybersecurity, so if Islamic countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) need assistance in developing cybersecurity expertise, the IDB will provide the funding, but we will refer the expertise to the CSM,” he said.
He also said that at the end of 2018, the CSM received a courtesy call from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) asking for the CSM’s endorsement to assist the International Criminal Police Organization in developing global guidelines on digital forensics. rice field.
The request comes on the heels of Malaysia being the first in the Asia-Pacific region to be accredited by the American Association of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD).
“Becoming ASCLD accredited is not easy. This (accreditation) has prompted Interpol to seek advice, guidance and support in developing the guidelines launched in São Paulo, Brazil in May 2019. Forensic guidelines,” Amiluddin added. — Bernama
