Potential sources of Malaysia data leak identified

This article is more than 12 months old

Nov 02, 2017 06:00 am

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities have identified potential sources behind the alleged attempt to sell the data of more than 46 million mobile phone subscribers after a major data breach, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said yesterday.

The massive data breach was first reported last month by Lowyat.net, a local technology news website, which said it had received a tip-off that someone was trying to sell huge databases of personal information on its forums.

Mr Salleh said the country's Internet regulator, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), was looking into the matter with the police.

"We have identified several potential sources of the leak, and we should be able to complete the probe soon," Mr Salleh told reporters at Parliament.

The leaked data was being sold for an undisclosed amount of Bitcoin, a digital currency, Lowyat.net said.

MCMC's chief operating officer Mazlan Ismail said on Tuesday that the regulator had met with local telecommunications companies to seek their cooperation in the probe, according to state news agency Bernama. - REUTERS