Head, Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection KK Lim comments in the Straits Times article titled "Spike in attempts to hijack computers for cryptocurrency mining: Cyber-security firm"

Eversheds Harry Elias Head, Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection KK Lim commented in the Straits Times article titled "Spike in attempts to hijack computers for cryptocurrency mining: Cyber-security firm". The article was first published on 3 June 2020.

Spike in attempts to hijack computers for cryptocurrency mining: Cyber-security firm

SINGAPORE - Digital hijackers are taking over computers to mine for cryptocurrency, with cyber-security firm Kaspersky saying that Singapore has had a spike in cryptojacking attempts in the first three months of 2020.

The Russia-based firm said it blocked more than 11,700 cryptojacking attempts on devices in Singapore between January and March this year - a more than threefold increase from the same period last year when there were about 2,900 attempts.

In a recently published report, Kaspersky said the spike is the highest percentage increase in South-east Asia.

Below is an excerpt from the article which features comments from KK Lim:

The uptick in cryptojacking cases could be due to the increased number of people working from home (WFH) amid the Covid-19 pandemic, said Mr K.K. Lim, head of cyber security, privacy and data protection at law firm Eversheds Harry Elias.

"We can definitely say that WFH increases the opportunity just like phishing, because some WFH 'home' computers may not update their security updates as it is a general computer used by everyone," said Mr Lim, referring to how some families might share the same device to access work e-mails or other corporate information.

These workers could be using desktops in the office, and may not have been given an office device to work from home.

Mr Lim said that having in place proper Internet browser security features, which can scan for malicious software, will go a long way to shield users from falling victim to cryptojacking.

But he added that nothing beats practising good cyber hygiene habits.

"Practising good basic cyber hygiene like not clicking on unknown links in e-mail, going to official government, commercial and legitimate websites for news and other information, having updated end-point security and constant training for corporates are some effective ways to avoid these crypto miners," he said.

Full article can be found here. 

Source: The Straits Times

Author: Hariz Baharudin