Hackers Break Into Malaysia’s Insolvency Department Website

Certain regions in Malaysia hacked into the Insolvency Department's special website, www.insolvency.gov.my that collects people's complaints on Credit Tip Off Service Sdn Bhd (CTOS), as reported by Bernama.com in news on July 3, 2007.

Before taking action against CTOS a proper reviewing of the complaints is done, which work as evidence against the organization. Actions could even include government's shutting down of CTOS' operations.

The website came into existence on July 28, 2007 to move stored data. Deputy Minister Daluk M. Kayveas in the Prime Minister's Department said certain sources had tried to break into the website. On June 28, 2007, Kayveas had informed that the legal affairs division was planning to visit CTOS on July 10 to survey their operations.

Kayveas said the hacking was very systematic in which the complainants' e-mails automatically went to an unknown website instead of to the Insolvency site. Bernama.com published Kayveas' statement on July 3, 2007. Kayveas also mentioned that due to the website intrusion the department had to move portions of the database to safer websites.

Kayveas assured that no such damaging tactic could deter him from ensuring justice to those whom CTOS victimized especially the blacklisted individuals, as per the news reported by Bernama.com on July 3, 2007.

Kayveas said people wanting to complain against CTOS could put up their complaints on the Insolvency website where the safety measures had been strengthened to avoid further hacking. The complaints regarding CTOS were about its use of obsolete information, which could not enable applicants to procure bank loans.

On June 25, 2007, Kayveas said in a statement that the government had not authorized CTOS to hunt for information on people's financial background.

The Malaysian Computer Emergency Response Team (MyCert) reported that there had been too many hacking incidents over the past few years. However, system managers have been prompted for monitoring, upgrading, and patching their computer servers to prevent hacking.

In October 2006, Bruce Schneier, CTO of Counterpane Internet Security based in the U.S. outlined ten factors that affected security online information at the 'Hack in the Box Security Conference' in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was delivering the keynote address.

Related article: Hackers Redirect Windows Live Search to Malicious Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 7/13/2007