Thai government yesterday launched a five-year programme to regulate cyber security and implement measures in an effort to combat possible cyber attacks.

Three key strategies were draft yesterday at the first meeting of the National Cyber Security Committee and the ICT Minister Group Captain Anudith Nakornthap, to focus on incorporating national cyber security, capacity building for rapid response to cyber attacks, and the protection of computer and online infrastructure.

There are also five smaller strategies being discussed during the meeting. Some of which include the public-private collaboration to solidify the efforts. The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) will be responsible for working out the strategies and measures.

The ICT minister said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatre, presided over the event showed her concerns about extensive Internet use and abuse that would lead to the violation of the Internet users’ rights.

From January to May this year, there were 1,475 random intrusions into state-run databases and websites. At the same period, there were also 750 malware intrusions and 750 phishing efforts, ETDA Director Surangkhana Vayuparb revealed.

“The situation is under control in general but the public should be advised further on how to handle threats coming online,” she said.

The campaign launched yesterday is an effort to initially alert state agencies and teach them how to identify cyber attacks, as well as how to respond. The campaign indicates that when an attack occurs, the computers that are under attack are not to be touched or tampered with, and local area connections must be discontinued. Officials must report to superiors and requests for advice will be made via hotline number 1212, which is under the operation of Thai Computer Emergency Response Team (ThaiCERT).

Meanwhile, the ETDA has recently signed an agreement with the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) — the world’s largest certified IT security training centre, for teaching Thai IT security professionals at the government agencies.

ETDA’s Office of Security Director Soranun Juwasurat said that scholarships worth up to US$120,000 from the EC-Council will be given to the ETDA to train 40 government officials about ethical hacking and computer forensic skills.