Making an IMPACT on Cyber-terrorism

Malaysia hopes to make an impact in the global war against cyber terror with the setting up of an international centre that will have leading names in the IT industry serving on its advisory board. The Government has approved RM43mil to set up the centre, aptly called Impact (International Multinational Partnership Against Cyber Terrorism), in Cyberjaya. The non-profit organisation will be the world’s first international public-private sector collaborative institution against cyber terrorism. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mooted the idea at the World Congress on Information Technology in Austin, United States, last year. Impact management board chairman Mohd Nor Amin told The Star the Cabinet agreed and approved the seed funding for the centre last month. “Impact aims to bring governments and international private sectors together to deal with the increasing threats in cyberspace. “The centre will offer the world the best brains and facilities to help fight cyber security threats. “Currently, there is no such organisation in the world that could fulfil the role,” he said. He said Impact would also allow governments to exchange notes and ideas as well as share skills and best practices towards countering such threats. Impact will be able to respond to emergencies and early warnings to help governments worldwide that face an imminent cyber threat or those already in emergency situations, Mohd Nor said. Some leading names in the IT industry such as Symantec Corporation (United States), Trend Micro (Japan), F-Secure (Finland) and KaperskyLab (Russia) have agreed to be key partners and serve on Impact's international advisory board.