Security beef-up after threat by Anonymous Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Security at the information networks of 10 vital public sector agencies have been ordered to be tightened after hacktivist group Anonymous Malaysia threatened to launch an "all-out Internet war" against the Government.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Madius Tangau said security specialists CyberSecurity Malaysia and Mimos Bhd were taking proactive measures.

The measures include looking for and plugging system loopholes, providing technical support to the agencies and running drills that would help prepare for hacking attacks.

He said Mimos, as the national ICT (information and communications technology) research and development agency, would provide advanced security technologies.

The ministry had also told the agencies to upgrade their software and ensure that the security patches for their computer systems were up-to-date, he said in a statement.

Among the 10 are agencies for defence and security; banking and finance; information and communications; energy; water; transportation; health and emergency services; as well as food and agriculture.

"If they take control of the network at any one of these agencies, it can affect the running of the country," said a source at the ministry.

The source said the Government was prepared for any eventuality.

"We always plan for the worst and have regular crisis simulation drills," said the source.

Anonymous Malaysia posted an eight-minute video on its Facebook page on Aug 4, calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister over recent issues.

The group threatened to wage an "all-out Internet warfare" on the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and 150 websites that it has "strategically selected".

It said the day-long cyber attacks would begin on Aug 29 to coincide with the Bersih 4.0 demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur over alleged corruption.