Share

Singapore gets tough on cybercrime

Singapore - Singapore is gearing up for a crackdown on cybercrime with the launch of a central agency and the appointment of a minister in charge of cyber security, the government said on Tuesday, as the wealthy city-state grapples with a rise in online crime.

In recent years, Singapore has struggled to combat cyber criminals, who have committed offences including stealing client data from Standard Chartered Bank and hacking the official website of the prime minister.

Computer security experts say developed, technology-rich Asian countries are particularly vulnerable to attacks.

Singapore relies heavily on its reputation of being low-crime and politically stable to lure multinational companies to its shores.

The national cyber security agency, which will start operations on 1 April, will consolidate and centralise oversight of cyber security functions, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

The government also announced the new portfolio of minister-in-charge of cyber security. Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, will fill the post.

The establishment of the domestic cyber agency follows the opening of an Interpol centre in Singapore last year, which focuses on fighting cyber crime.

Noboru Nakatani, executive director of Interpol's Global Complex for Innovation, said then that Singapore was likely to remain a prime target for cyber attacks.

Boeing said last October it was opening a cyber security centre in Singapore, its first such facility outside the Us, to tackle the "current and evolving cyber security challenges" in the region.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.93
+0.0%
Rand - Pound
23.90
+0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.40
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.33
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.0%
Platinum
908.05
+1.2%
Palladium
1,014.94
+1.3%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders