Data security level needs to be improved

SHAH ALAM - The security level of the database system in the country should be constantly improved to prevent it from being easily hacked leading to continuous cases of data leakages.

Cyber ​​security expert Dr Amirah Ismail said those in the database security team also needed to have a high level of knowledge and expertise in line with the development of cyber technology.

She said basically every database was safe and has been tested several times before it was being used.

"However, if there is still a data leak, there may still be room for irresponsible parties to hack into the system.

"So the database security system needs to be further improved, for example by increasing the level of codes used and monitoring every activity in their database system," she told Sinar Harian.

Meanwhile, Amirah who is also Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Management and Software Technology Research Centre, Faculty of Information Technology and Science senior lecturer said the level of data security at the user level could also be tightened according to several layers.

"Now we know, in order to access several systems, apart from having a password, users also need to go through the security screening of facial recognition scans.

"It is a bit tedious if you want to improve the security aspect because people with low information technology literacy cannot follow it, but maybe it can be done in stages," she said.

She said it was important that system providers, especially the banking sector, immediately inform users if there was a data leak in their system.

Amirah said cases of data leakages still occurring in the country did not mean that the country still lacked expertise in terms of data security protection.

"For me, we do have experts in the field of data security and the level of data security is at the highest level to guarantee its security, especially for banking institutions.

"It's just that an irresponsible party may be able to decode some sensitive data, so this is what needs to be dealt with," she explained.

Therefore, Amirah suggested that the system operator always update the software used from time to time because one cannot use a single software for too long.

"The software used must always be up-to-date, there must be an antivirus and many more softwares must be developed that can prevent hacking and fraud," she said.