KUALA LUMPUR - The Internet has revolutionised education by providing students with unprecedented access to information and resources and expanding learning opportunities.
However, the widespread use of the Internet also brings with it cybersecurity threats, leaving youngsters vulnerable to malicious activities intended to compromise the security, integrity or availability of information systems and data.
Cyber threats, which can come in various forms including cyberbullying, phishing, fraud and social media identity theft, can affect individuals across all demographics but the situation is particularly concerning for young users as they lack the necessary knowledge to handle them effectively.
According to datareportal.com, as of January 2024, Malaysia’s Internet users totalled 33.59 million compared to 33.03 million a year ago. Among the users are students who rely heavily on computers, smartphones, tablets and the Internet to complete their school assignments.
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
With the popularity of the Internet, cyberspace has turned into a "den” where cybercriminals lurk, waiting to trap unsuspecting users.
The National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) - Malaysia’s lead agency for cybersecurity matters - has sprung into action to address national cyber threats, particularly in the regulatory aspect and enforcement of cybersecurity policies and management strategies.
(NACSA, established in February 2017, comes under the National Security Council in the Prime Minister’s Department.)
NACSA chief executive Dr Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin said there are several reasons why students are particularly susceptible to the traps set by cybercriminals, one of the main ones being their lack of awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.
"It’s indeed easy for us to provide our children with devices for their educational purposes, but effectively monitoring their daily activities in the cyberworld is increasingly challenging.
"The lack of formal education on cybersecurity in the school curricula also contributes to this issue,” he told Bernama in an interview recently.
He added the increase in time spent on social media among children and teenagers is influencing how they connect and interact with others, and receive information, thus making them more vulnerable to being deceived by cybercrime tactics.
In view of this, NACSA has taken several proactive steps to educate the younger generation on addressing current issues related to cybersecurity.
Megat Zuhairy said one of the measures implemented recently to cultivate a cyber-savvy generation is the My Cyber Hero programme, which NACSA developed in collaboration with Micro Concept Tech Sdn Bhd, aimed at educating primary and secondary school students nationwide on cybersecurity matters.
Under the annual programme, which has been approved by the Ministry of Education’s Sports, Cocurricular and Arts Division, "a variety of fun and engaging activities such as workshops, quizzes and competitions will be organised,” he said, adding, "We aspire to reach thousands of students in Malaysia (through the activities), thereby equipping them with the skills and knowledge to become proficient in cybersecurity matters.”
ENCOURAGING RESPONSE
The My Cyber Hero programme comprises two categories, the Rookie Cyber Hero category for primary school pupils and the Star Cyber Hero category for secondary students.
Participation in this year’s programme was opened to students nationwide between June 13 and June 20, 2024, following which a total of 1,122 teams from primary schools and 468 teams from secondary schools participated in two online workshops and a preliminary quiz.
The first workshop on June 24 exposed the participants to basic knowledge of computer science, computer networking and cybersecurity. The second workshop on July 9 focused on practical sessions involving topics such as computer science and computer networking, operating system (Windows OS), command prompt and cybersecurity, as well as cybersecurity gamification challenges.
Megat Zuhairy said a total of 4,770 students participated in the workshops and took part in the preliminary quiz.
"The total number (of participants) was beyond our expectations. It shows our students have a lot of interest in this field (cybersecurity),” he said.
He also said 25 teams from each category will be shortlisted to participate in a face-to-face competition involving cybersecurity gamification to be held on July 30 in conjunction with NACSA Cyber Security Summit 2024 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
CYBER-SAVVY AMBASSADORS
One of the more immediate benefits of the My Cyber Hero initiative would be the creation of young cyber-savvy "ambassadors” who would be able to pass on their knowledge of cybersecurity to their classmates and schoolmates.
As Nurfaieza Rozlan, a computer science teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Maahad Hamidiah in Kajang, Selangor, puts it, the programme’s implementation is a smart move by NACSA to assist schools in educating their students about various threats on the Internet and social media.
"Even the teachers, classmates and families of the students participating in the programme can benefit from the knowledge gained by the participants,” she said, adding the exposure will prevent students from falling for the tactics used by cybercriminals and becoming victims of cyberbullying.
She said although many schools have set up computer clubs to educate their students on, among other things, issues related to cybersecurity, it is still seen as insufficient.
"Here (in my school), we have established a Digital Computer and Robotics Club and many students participate in its activities. However, the exposure given to them is somewhat inadequate, and topics related to cybersecurity are not thoroughly discussed due to the limited time allocated to the club’s activities,” she said.
Nurfaieza said exposure to cybersecurity is important for students as they are too naive and easily influenced by their peers, leading them to fall prey to cybercrimes.
"We hope the My Cyber Hero programme will equip them with comprehensive knowledge on using the Internet correctly and in accordance with established laws,” she added.
Megat Zuhairy, meanwhile, said, NACSA also hopes the programme would succeed in injecting enthusiasm in students, helping them to cultivate an interest in cybersecurity, which is one of the core areas in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) stream.
"We hope that in the long term, more students will pursue higher studies in the field of cybersecurity as our country is facing a shortage of personnel with cybersecurity skills. Currently, there are 13,000 skilled employees, far below our target of 25,000 by 2025,” he said.
He said NACSA also views capacity building in the field of cybersecurity as an important agenda that needs to be strengthened to complete its ecosystem in Malaysia.
"This is also in line with the recently introduced Cyber Security Act,” he said.
The Cyber Security Act 2024 was gazetted by the Attorney General's Chambers on June 26. This legislation is a major milestone in strengthening Malaysia's cyber defences and enhancing its resilience against emerging threats. - BERNAMA