KANGAR: The Communications and Multimedia ministry brushed off claims that Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in the country would be shut down for three days following a ransomware attack in India.
Deputy minister Datuk Jailani Johari said investigation revealed that the message, which has been circulated on social media today, was a hoax.
He urged the public not to panic and that they should verify such information before posting it on social media.
Jailani said this after attending the Asean@yourfingertips 2017 programme graced by Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail here.
Also present at the programme, jointly organised by Community College and the Information department, was Raja Puan Muda Tuanku Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil.
Jailani was commenting on the fake message being circulated about the “WanaCrypt0r 2.0” ransomware cyber-attack in India which reportedly would lead to the closure of ATMs in Malaysia for three days.
He added to date, there is no report of the ransomware, a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system, attacking network users in the country.
“However, all network users are urged to back up their systems and data periodically and avoid from accessing suspicious links on the Internet.
“It is also crucial for everyone to install anti-virus and malware detector to protect the machine against cyber attack including ransomware,” he said.
The attack has affected the computer networks of Britain’s National Health Service, Russia’s interior ministry and international shipper FedEx, among others.