The first cyber court in Malaysia officially began operations early this month. It’s about time, too, as cybercrime has been growing at an unbelievable rate with each passing year as technology continues to evolve and play an important part in the lives of many.
Today, there are more than 13.5 million Internet users in the country, which is a staggering number of people who can be potentially exposed to cybercrime.
The CyberSecurity Malaysia agency had stated that there was no comprehensive definition of cybercrime, but for now, it could be categorised into three.
The first focuses on information and communications technology (ICT) systems and virtual properties that become the target of exploitation, infringement, and identity and information theft.
The second comprises ICT devices used to commit crimes in the virtual space, such as personal computers that are used to carry out acts of stealing money, information and identities in other computers.
The final category is where ICT devices are used as a medium to commit cybercrime. Using your personal ICT devices, such as computers and tablets, for slandering, sedition or instigating at a higher scale falls into this category.
CyberSecurity Malaysia reported that it received 3,752 cases of online fraud and intrusion this year, as well as a shocking 191,096 cases of botnet and malware viruses. Some 30 Malaysians have fallen prey to cybercrime daily, with fraud and intrusion cases taking the highest spot.
With that said, the setting up of the nation’s first cyber court, located in the Duta Courts complex, is timely. The cyber court deals with cybercrime, such as hacking, bank fraud, spying, web defacement, identity and information theft, online gambling and online pornography.
Things are not like what they used to be after technology came into the picture. As technology continues to evolve, so does cybercrime. Many predators seek out the virtual world every day in the hopes of carrying out online crimes, thinking that there are no laws in the virtual space and they are free to do as they like.
There is no better time than now to take action, and the setting up of the cyber court is a positive move towards protecting Malaysians from the various forms of online menace.
Our cyberspace needs to be put in order. Regulating cybercrime would force online predators and those with bad intentions to think twice before carrying out their actions, as they now risk the possibility of getting caught and punished.
It was reported recently that more than 2,100 servers had been compromised. Precious and personal information is allegedly sold on an underground cybercrime shopping website called xDedic.
Imagine your banking details, those on properties and assets, and identification and passport details being made available to just about anyone. That’s enough to send one into a frenzied state, as such information may be used by greedy cybercriminals. One stands to lose everything if his or her personal data is exposed.
One of the most common cases of cybercrime in the country, as reported by CyberSecurity Malaysia, is victims being targeted via social networking sites. Scammers hide behind an attractive female profile, lure potential lonely victims into chats and slowly gain their trust. Once this is achieved, they ask the victims to commit indecent acts via video chats and, then, proceed to blackmail the victims with the threat of exposing the videos online.
This is known as cyber blackmail, and it is growing exponentially across the globe. Of course, there are also other forms of cybercrime, such as extortion, bullying and shopping scams, which need to be addressed accordingly.
The setting up of the cyber court is, therefore, a positive move to enable the authorities to use cyberlaws in dealing with the increasing number of cybercrime cases more effectively. It sends out the message to criminals that they can no longer roam cyberspace as freely as before, as the long arm of the law is out to nab them. This, over time, will help Malaysians feel more secure and safe in cyberspace.
As Malaysia joins other countries, like the United States and those in Europe, in establishing its own cyber court and the subsequent use of cyberlaws, it is sending out positive vibes that it is keeping up with its duty as a responsible government to protect its people in cyberspace.
Just like the real world, the virtual world also needs law and order. It should be a safe haven where all can work, live and play.
Ahmad Kushairi is editor of BOTs, the weekly tech section in Life&Times. Trained in Maths, he has since traded his problem-solving skills with writing about how tech has helped transform the world for the better