As such, the number of incidents of cyberattacks in the first five months of the year was 4,639, 15 percent lower than in the same period last year, according to the Authority of Information Security (AIS).

The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) under AIS reported that in May 2023 the center discovered and guided people on how to handle 695 cyberattacks causing incidents to information systems, an increase of 39.6 percent over April and a decrease of 17.9 percent from May 2022.

The total incidents of cyberattacks recognized by NCSC in the first five months were 4,639, lower than the 5,463 in the same period last year.

In a May report about the implementation of Resolution 17 on e-government development, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) said one of the shortcomings was network safety and cybersecurity in many places.

To ensure network information security, MIC will continue to strengthen supervision over information systems, take initiative in scanning Vietnam’s cyberspace, compile statistics and promote propaganda and warnings on mass media for users to know about risks, and take measures to avoid incidents. 

It will continue releasing documents to warn ministries, branches, localities and members about the incident response network to keep them busy checking vulnerabilities and signs of cyberattacks.

Vu Ngoc Son, chief technology officer of NCS, discovered in the first months of 2023, groups of hackers inserted ads on gambling and betting in websites of state agencies and education units. 

The hackers carried out attacks through basic holes, mostly SQL Injection, thus hijacking servers and inserting ad codes and SEO codes for betting and gambling websites.

Major General Nguyen Van Giang, Deputy Director of the Department of Cyber ​​Security and Hi-tech Crime Prevention under the Ministry of Public Security, said at the Vietnam Security Summit 2023 on June 2 that attacking to exploit security holes to gain control and steal data from agencies and organizations is a prominent activity and one of the four common trends of cybercriminals.

Regarding vulnerabilities and information security holes in the systems of state agencies, in the first four months of 2023, NCSC’s system recognized 52,077 vulnerabilities. In April 2023 alone, the figure was over 39,300. Some flaws have been exploited by hackers to conduct APTs (advanced persistent threat).

Experts recommend system administrators regularly carry out overall reviews and fully update vulnerability patches, as well as develop 24/7 monitoring plans to detect and promptly respond to cyberattacks.

Van Anh