From: InfoSec News (isnC4I.ORG)
Date: Mon Jan 15 2001 - 01:17:44 CST

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http://asia.internet.com/biz/2001/01/0112-malaysia.html

By Raymond Hor
Malaysia Correspondent, asia.internet.com
January 12, 2000

The Malaysian government is taking drastic measures to combat an
increasing series of hacking incidents involving the Web sites of its
agencies and ministries.

The measures include adding more information and communications
technology (ICT)-skilled staff to better manage Web sites, and
ensuring that all security modules and features of software programs
used are optimized.

The Malaysian Administration Modernization and Management Planning
Unit (Mampu)'s deputy director-general, Datuk Anwar Maarof, said the
unit will be collaborating with universities to have the related civil
servants to undergo training.

"It is crucial for people running the Web sites to be continuously
updated on Internet security measures. They ought to be alert of
potential security threats and respond quickly to avoid damages that
could disrupt operations," said Maarof.

"We are looking at the combination of both easy access and tight
security providing public users the comfort of getting information."

Maarof said that the hacking incidents are being investigated under
Section 5 of the Computer Crimes Act 1997. Offenders can be jailed for
a maximum of seven years or fined RM100,000 (US$26,300), or both, upon
conviction.

According to Maarof, currently there are only 50 Mampu personnel
monitoring about 700 government Web sites.

He disclosed that the number of Web sites hacked has been on the rise
from 28 cases in 1998 to 47 cases in the first eight months of 1999.

Fifty of the existing government Web sites have been hacked, he added.

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