News & Reviews:   protection

Smartphones have pretty much taken over almost everything. It has become our wallets, cameras, and personal data hubs, an all-in-one device. But this also makes them prime targets for cyber threats, which we have seen the rise of scams and spam over the years, especially since the pandemic.

Not all is bleak, though. At the same time, modern devices are more secure than ever thanks to significant improvements in operating systems and hardware-level protections. It makes sense for personal computers to have an anti-virus program to help guard against malicious attacks, but what about smartphones? Do you actually need an anti-virus app on your phone?

In early January, we reported that MCMC planned to ban under-16s from social media this year. We have another new update today, as news sources report that the government is preparing to implement a minimum age requirement for social media accounts, which is expected to come into effect as early as July 2026, subject to completion of ongoing preparatory work.

To kick off 2026, Malaysia has officially begun enforcing the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA), with revamped digital safety laws designed to tighten protections across the internet, especially for children and families. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) confirmed the act takes legal effect today, ushering in new expectations for how digital platforms must operate within the country’s cyberspace.

As the year-end travel season approaches, Maxis is enhancing its roaming offerings by bundling Maxis Travel Care. It is a complimentary travel insurance plan, with selected Maxis Roaming Passes and added protection complementing Maxis’s unlimited 5G and 4G roaming data.

Ransomware remains a devastating cyber threat, involving organizations from healthcare to education and governments to corporations. Today, Google Cloud announced a new, AI-powered defense for Google Drive particularly for Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows files.

ShopeePay is stepping up its fintech game with the launch of two new Personal Accident insurance plans, developed in collaboration with Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad. The move aligns with ShopeePay’s ongoing mission—‘Simple Finance for All’—to make financial protection more accessible and affordable for everyday Malaysians.

CelcomDigi is stepping up its cybersecurity game with the launch of MobileSHIELD, a new AI-powered mobile security app designed to help Malaysians take control of their digital safety. From scam protection to identity monitoring, MobileSHIELD offers all-in-one defence against today’s most common mobile threats.

As scam rises as a threat to society, the same goes for businesses on a daily basis. Today, Kaspersky introduces its new flagship product line - Kaspersky Next. It combines endpoint protection with the transparency and speed of EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) alongside powerful tools of XDR (Extended Detection and Response).

In this digital age, there are plenty of ways to scam a person. Whether it be pretending to be another person, sending a parcel scam message or directing you to a fake Maybank website, scammers have found a new way of scamming even more people by having a fake app.

After Elon Musk told his followers on Twitter to switch to Signal app from WhatsApp, there was a sudden spike in new registrations and verification code delays due to the number of new users. In case you missed it, WhatsApp recently updated their privacy policy on how they share your data with other Facebook-owned platforms, which got a lot of people feeling uneasy.