Tech blogger sets up website for verification

Pix from Keith Rozario

PETALING JAYA: It was Keith Rozario’s (pix) worry that one of the country’s largest data breaches may have long-lasting consequen­ces for Malaysians that led him to set up a website to help them verify if they are affected by it.

The tech blogger and IT expert expressed concern that since some of the information leaked, like the 46.2 million phone numbers, MyKad numbers and addresses, were unchange­able in nature, the victims could be “exposed” for life.

“Since MyKad numbers and names are pretty much permanent, if you are a victim once, you are a victim for the rest of your life. There’s no way to undo it,” he told The Star.

“You can download the data today and execute an operation three years down the road and you could have an 80% success rate because the details won’t change,” he said.

With these details, he said scammers could use the victims’ personal information to gain their trust and trick them into revealing more information.

The website sayakenahack.com, with a simple minimalist design, allows people to key in their MyKad number and check if their personal data had been compromised. If they were, the website would reveal what information, for example their phone number or address, was breached.

Rozario said he designed the website to not reveal more information than necessary, keeping pertinent details hidden.

“The phone numbers are masked. Only the first three numbers and the last two digits are shown so you can verify if it is correct. But for someone randomly typing in MyKad numbers into the system, there are about five numbers still masked, so it is unlikely they will get it,” he said.

The purpose of the website is to allow the people to be aware that their personal data is out there.

However, beyond knowing this, there is not much the people can do.

“You have the right to know at least though, there’s not much you can do. You can’t be issued a new MyKad number or change your name and you can’t really change your address,” he said.