Kuala Lumpur Airport Suffered Cyberattack – Hackers Demanded US$10 Million Ransom

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed on Tuesday that hackers demanded a US$10 million ransom following a sophisticated cyberattack that disrupted critical systems at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) over the weekend. The security breach, which occurred on March 23, has raised significant concerns about vulnerabilities in the nation’s critical infrastructure cybersecurity frameworks. The attack […] The post Kuala Lumpur Airport Suffered Cyberattack – Hackers Demanded US$10 Million Ransom appeared first on Cyber Security News.

Mar 28, 2025 - 09:34

Kuala Lumpur Airport Suffered Cyberattack – Hackers Demanded US$10 Million Ransom

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed on Tuesday that hackers demanded a US$10 million ransom following a sophisticated cyberattack that disrupted critical systems at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) over the weekend.

The security breach, which occurred on March 23, has raised significant concerns about vulnerabilities in the nation’s critical infrastructure cybersecurity frameworks.

The attack specifically targeted the digital infrastructure of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), which operates the country’s airports.

PM Anwar characterized the incident as a “heavy” cyberattack during his address at the 218th Police Day Celebrations.

“When I was informed about this… I did not wait five seconds. I said no,” Anwar stated firmly.

“There is no way this country will be safe if its leaders and system allow us to bow to ultimatums by criminals and traitors, be it from inside or outside the country.”

Former Malaysian MP Wee Choo Keong claimed systems at KLIA were “down for more than 10 hours,” forcing airport personnel to revert to analog operations.

Kuala Lumpur Airport Suffered Cyberattack

Evidence posted on social media showed airport staff using whiteboards to manually display flight information, suggesting significant disruption to digital information systems.

KLIA Systems Down – What An International Embarrassment?
Why @MY_Airports @MOTMalaysia @anthonyloke @Khazanah Are Keeping Their Elegant Silence? or All Are Clueless including MAHB's New Partner GIP?

At 3 am on 23.3.2025 Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) systems were all… pic.twitter.com/K8jabIY8Tl— Wee Choo Keong (@weechookeong) March 24, 2025

The incident bears the hallmarks of a ransomware attack, where threat actors deploy malicious code to encrypt system files, rendering them inaccessible until payment is received.

However, no specific hacking group has claimed responsibility for the breach as of Wednesday.

In response to the incident, MAHB and the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) launched a comprehensive investigation to assess the nature and extent of the breach.

They also notified the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) about the security incident.

NACSA Chief Executive Dr. Megat Zulhairy Megat Tajuddin has been actively monitoring the situation, while MAHB Managing Director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani implemented emergency protocols to maintain operational continuity.

“Technical and operational teams are actively monitoring the situation and implementing necessary measures to safeguard the infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted passenger experience,” Mohd Izani said in an official statement.

Despite conflicting reports about operational impacts, cybersecurity experts suggest the attack likely exploited network vulnerabilities to compromise critical airport systems, including flight information displays, check-in terminals, and baggage handling processes.

The incident has prompted calls for enhanced endpoint protection, network segmentation, and implementation of zero-trust architecture across Malaysia’s critical infrastructure.

PM Anwar emphasized the need for increased budget allocations to strengthen the nation’s cyber defenses, particularly for essential services.

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