SHAH ALAM – The WhatsApp account of Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, which was recently compromised, is believed to have been accessed from abroad using a virtual private network (VPN).
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) acting director, Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said that preliminary investigations showed the perpetrator impersonated the minister, sending suspicious links to several contacts via WhatsApp.
"The hacker accessed the WhatsApp account and then distributed a URL link to the victim’s contacts.
"Checks found that no losses have been reported so far, as swift action was taken by the minister’s officers who immediately reported the incident," he said during a press conference at the CCID Headquarters in Bukit Aman on Friday.
Hasbullah confirmed the case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Computer Crimes Act 1997.
"The police are tracking the location and whereabouts of the perpetrator for further action," he said.
The breach of Saifuddin’s WhatsApp account was first reported on Monday.
The Home Minister’s office confirmed the hack and lodged a police report.