The threat from the 'Wannacry' ransomware which has affected the world, including England, in its most recent attack, has caused many to question the safety of data stored online.
The cyber virus attack preys on governments or companies as well as individual internet users, causing them to lose information, sensitive and confidential data, whether temporarily or permanently, which results in the disruption of operations.
In a borderless world, the rapid flow of technology 'forces' people worldwide to celebrate its progress in all aspects of life and work, including the management of personal records or organisations via online.
Previously, the record management used the more conventional method of documenting via paper. However, we have now shifted to an electronic management system which is far more efficient and environment-friendly.
A senior lecturer at the Centre of Record Management Studies, Faculty of Information Management, at Universiti Teknologi MARA's (UiTM) Puncak Perdana campus, Shah Alam, Selangor, Mohd Nizam Yunus when commenting on the threat said that hacking currently posed the highest risk in record management.
"This cyber attack not only puts data and records at risk, but also forces victims to pay ransom for the release of their data from the hackers. This shows that data and records saved electronically are vulnerable as it can be easily invaded.
"We do not know if ransomware hackers merely lock data from being used or whether they have actually made copies of the data to their server for ill intentions," he told Bernama recently.
Meanwhile, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau was quoted to have said on May 18 that cyber attacks now could be assumed as high-level threats to the world and most of the virus came from porn sites, news and dubious links.
He added, following the trend, Malaysia needed to invest in the field of research and development (R&D), especially on cyber security, as the threat would continue to increase from time to time.
Further commenting, Mohd Nizam said the recent situation triggers fear among the public and they felt insecure in saving data or records electronically, which further worsened the situation, especially in the operation of an organisation.
Taking in the example of internet banking, he said people were beginning to feel vulnerable with the system and resulted in banks becoming congested.
"If people are afraid to use internet banking then banks will be overcrowded again like in the early days when there was no internet banking...and people had to line up at counters to withdraw money. Some may not want to save their money in banks as they know banks can also do the transactions online," he explained.
Mohd Nizam urged people (individual users and organisations) to do record management via online and increase safety features to lessen the risk of being hacked.
"Basically, items saved online are still secure. However, the conventional method is still needed as backup, in the instance our records are hacked by the ransomware," he added.
Meanwhile, another senior lecturer of the same faculty, Alwi Mohd Yunus said in the context of the safety of records online, if the antivirus and security 'firewall' system were constantly updated and the control procedures for electronic records were complied with, then the chances for the ransomware or other virus attacks to invade were low.
Nevertheless, he stressed on the importance of the security issue which should not be underestimated.
"The National Archives of Malaysia (NAM) has issued a guideline and operating procedures for electronic records, in a structured or unstructured environment, from the findings of the electronic Archiving and Government Record System (e-SPARK) Committee that should be referred to and adopted by all government agencies in ensuring the security, public records and confidential government matters online.
"Among the main elements in the upkeep and security of public records comprising military and history records which the NAM has decreed should not be saved nor accessed through the main server," he said.
Thus, he urged those who wished to refer to historical materials to come to NAM as it was unavailable online unless the material did not affect national security.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu May 25 2017
A lecturer says, if the antivirus and security 'firewall' system were constantly updated and the control procedures for electronic records were complied with, then the chances for the ransomware or other virus attacks to invade were low.
Hujan roket Hizbullah gegar utara Israel
Pejuang Hizbullah pada Rabu melancarkan kira-kira 30 roket dari Lubnan ke kawasan utara Israel selepas gerakan disokong Iran itu berikrar untuk 'menghukum' rejim Zionis.
Tol percuma sempena Aidilfitri 8, 9 April - Alexander
Pengguna lebuh raya membabitkan kenderaan persendirian (Kelas 1) diberi kemudahan tol percuma selama dua hari iaitu 8 dan 9 April bersempena dengan sambutan Aidilfitri tahun ini.
Penstriman haram: Jangkitan malware berisiko akibatkan kecurian, penipuan identiti pengguna
Awas dan jangan mudah terpedaya dengan sebarang akses haram yang menawarkan pelbagai filem dan siri televisyen kerana ia mungkin menyimpan perisian hasad atau malware.
Insentif cukai baharu untuk syarikat berstatus Malaysia Digital
Perbadanan Ekonomi Digital Malaysia (MDEC) akan memperkenalkan insentif cukai baharu kepada syarikat berstatus Malaysia Digital (MD) dan syarikat berstatus Koridor Raya Multimedia (MSC) sedia ada.
Gentari setuju saranan tubuh konsortium bantu pemain solar - DPMM
Gentari Sdn Bhd menyatakan persetujuannya dengan saranan untuk mewujudkan konsortium dianggotai pemain industri solar.
Cuaca panas: Petani di Kelantan pasrah, tiada hasil padi dituai
Antara kawasan tanaman padi yang terjejas teruk ialah Kota Bharu Utara dan Selatan, terutama di sekitar Ketereh yang bergantung sepenuhnya kepada sumber air daripada pam Kemubu.
Sunway Sinar Ramadan 2024 Pulau Pinang kongsi erti Ramadan bersama anak yatim
Siri sambutan perayaan utama tahunan Kumpulan Sunway (Sunway) kembali dengan #SunwayforGood Sinar Ramadan bagi berkongsi keceriaan kepada lebih 4,000 komuniti masyarakat kurang bernasib baik.
Firdaus Wong lapor polis ugutan bunuh, pukul dan fitnah
Pendakwah bebas, Firdaus Wong Wai Hung membuat enam laporan setelah menerima ugutan bunuh, pukul dan fitnah melibatkan dirinya serta keluarga di Balai Polis Wangsa Maju pada Rabu.
TikTok akan lancar pusat pilihan raya dalam talian untuk tangani maklumat salah
Impak media sosial ke atas pilihan raya adalah dibimbangi, dengan AI yang mampu membawa gelombang baharu maklumat salah dan palsu.
Kerajaan dan BNM ambil langkah segera perkukuh nilai ringgit
Pelbagai langkah segera bagi memperkukuh nilai ringgit termasuk memastikan pasaran pertukaran asing dalam negara kekal teratur, sudah dan sedang diambil kerajaan dan Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).