Vietnam hit by 2,900 cyber attacks in first half of 2021

Vietnam recorded 2,915 cyber attacks in the first six months of 2021, an increase of 898 compared with the same period last year.

According to the Vietnam National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), 718 cyber attacks were reported in June alone.

Experts attributed the rise in the incidents to the COVID-19 pandemic which has become more complicated. Criminals take advantage of the society’s attention to the pandemic to increase cyber attacks, spread malicious codes and scams to destroy and steal information of users as well as organisations and businesses, they said.

Earlier on May 26, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung issued Directive No 22/CT-BTTT on strengthening the prevention and combat of violations and crimes on the Internet

The Minister also requested the sector to continue to effectively implement the Prime Minister’s Directive No 14/CT-TTg issued on June 7, 2019 on enhancing safety measures on cybersecurity which aims to improve Vietnam's rankings.

Vietnam jumped 25 places in two years to rank 25th out of 194 countries and territories worldwide in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) in 2020, according to a report released recently by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

According to the report, Vietnam ranked seventh in the Asia-Pacific region and fourth among ASEAN countries.

The country posted a score of 94.59 with improved scores in all five reviewed pillars. The country’s efforts to build long-term development projects in personnel for cybersecurity were recognised, along with achievements in the creating of an ecosystem for safe ‘Made in Vietnam’ products and cybersecurity.

Vietnam surpassed Thailand to clinch the fourth spot in ASEAN after Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The leading countries in the Asia-Pacific region are the Republic of Korea and Japan both with 98.52 points.