ASEAN cyber security centre inaugurated in Thailand

Hanoi (VNA) - A cyber security centre was inaugurated in Thailand on September 14 to train personnel from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to help combat cyber threats in the attack-prone region.

The idea of the ASEAN-Japan Cyber Security Capacity Building Centre was put forth at a meeting between ASEAN and Japanese ministers in Cambodia last year.

About 700 cyber security personnel from 10 ASEAN member nations are expected to graduate from the Japan-designed programmes, which include cyber defence, digital forensics and malware analysis.

The ASEAN member countries are experiencing more sophisticated cyber threats, whereas the cyber security personnel are yet insufficient, said Surangkana Wayuparb, Executive Director of Thailand's Electronic Transaction Development Agency, where the
centre is located.

In July, Singapore suffered its worst ever cyber attack when hackers stole personal information of about 1.5 million people, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, from a government health database.

Earlier this year, Malaysia said it had foiled an attempted cyber attack targeted at its central bank.

Meanwhile, Thailand is now drafting cyber security and data protection bills, which are expected to become law by the end of this year.-VNA