CYBERCRIMINALS have been cashing in since the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a pandemic.
According to LE Global Services Sdn Bhd (LGMS) chief executive officer Fong Choong-Fook, cybercriminals exploit public fear and uncertainty over the pandemic to launch phishing attacks.
“Currently, we are seeing various phishing emails with malware titled ‘Covid-19 Cure’ and ‘Latest Covid-19 alert’, entrapping general computer users, ” said Lee, commenting on the spike in cybercrimes lately.
Covid-19 has significantly changed the daily processes for most of the global workforce, impacting how businesses are conducted and how communications take place.
Fong, an industry partner of INTI International University & Colleges, said: “People must be aware of cyber threats during this period. They should regularly ensure their connections are secure, be cautious of phishing emails, and ensure all software and operating systems are up to date with the latest system patches.”
Working from home has become the new norm and the utilisation of home networks has increased.
Many companies are turning to software that helps staff work remotely, often on unsecure home or public networks. As the use of these platforms continue, it is certain that cybercrime threats will increase.
Organisations now have to take extra precautionary measures to overcome cybercriminal activities.
“Even smaller organisations are taking cybersecurity more seriously compared to before the MCO. We are seeing an uptrend in new investments in software and hardware to enhance cybersecurity, ” shared Fong.
Recognising the increasing need for trained professionals in this emerging field, INTI, in collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, offers a Bachelor of Computer Science with a major in Cybersecurity, available from July 2020.
INTI’s Centre for Australian Degree Programmes senior lecturer Shanmuga Sundram explained: “Cybersecurity’s most important goal is the protection of information especially now when the Covid-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges. This includes keeping networks that hold both personal and business information secure.”
“Because cybersecurity encompasses the protection of a variety of digital assets – including data and information, systems, intellectual property – cybersecurity as an industry offers diverse career paths such as security analyst, security software developer, cryptographer, security consultant, and cryptanalyst, ” said Shanmuga on career opportunities in this field.
INTI International College Subang’s chief executive Dr Jane Lim shared: “Cybersecurity has always played an important role in how corporations and governments operate. Now, with a majority of individuals working or studying from home, it is a critical part of our day-to-day lives.
“Swinburne has an international reputation for quality research that connects science and technology with business and the community.
“The university ranks among the world’s top 400 research-intensive universities by the prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2018.
“Bringing their expertise in computer science and cybersecurity to INTI will expose our students to rapidly changing industry trends and prepare them for this advancing field of work.”
Amid these challenging times, INTI continues to work towards ensuring education remains continuous and relevant.
For more details, visit https://newinti.edu.my
