ASEAN is vulnerable to cybercrimes due to its ability to defend against them, according to the Business Software Alliance (BSA).
The threat of being attacked by cybercriminals has never been more pronounced following the disruption in business caused by the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
BSA said cybercriminals — those who use networks and computers to engage in damaging illegal activities — are using opportunities created by the shake-up in business as usual to their own benefit via methods such as email phishing, malware, disguised apps, and detection of insecure networks.
“For several years now, it’s been essential for business executives to pay greater attention to cybersecurity, due to the massive damage that cybercrime can cause. Now the threats are rising, and the Asean region is especially vulnerable in its ability to defend against them, particularly due to under-reporting of attacks and the widespread use of unlicensed software here,” said Tarun Sawney, senior director at BSA.
Cybercrime is a bigger threat than ever in the COVID-19 era, with more businesses suffering attacks and malicious cybercriminals taking advantage of the confusion,
In its new e-book “COVID-19 and Cyber Threats in Southeast Asia,” the alliance describes how many businesses in the region have become more vulnerable to online threats due to disruptions caused by the virus, primarily the increase in employees working outside company networks.
It details the challenges that have arisen for cybersecurity in the Asean region since the COVID-19 crisis began and offers advice on how to deal with them.
The e-book offers descriptions of cybercrime tactics and advice for executives on protecting their employees from becoming victims, such as using secure software for all business operations — from communications to network security — and training employees to identify potential phishing attempts.
It also features detailed statistics gathered from various studies — including those by BSA members IBM and McAfee — on the impacts of cybercrime and data breaches in general on businesses, as well as examples of severe recent cases in the Asean region. A helpful glossary of cybersecurity terms and links to free software offers by BSA members round out the e-book.
“COVID-19 and Cyber Threats in Southeast Asia” is available for free download and includes messages from relevant governmental figures in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam verifying the severity of the threats and recommended actions businesses should take.
