The approval of the National master plan of development of digital information security to 2020, and the Law on Internet Security, show that Viet Nam has raised awareness on the importance of information security, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Nguyen Minh Hong said at the 18th Association of Anti-virus Asia Researchers International Conference (AVAR Viet Nam 2015).

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Minh Hong at the 18th Association of Anti-virus Asia Researchers International Conference (AVAR Viet Nam 2015).

The conference, which ended yesterday, drew 150 officials, experts on computer virus/ malwares from various countries and territories such as Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, the UK, the US and Viet Nam in discussions on the situation of information security, protection of internet and computer users as well as warnings on cyber attacks.

The annual conference was held in recognition of the changing threat landscape. This year's conference saw research, case studies, defence strategies, focusing on malware analysis and hacking techniques associated with advanced persistent threats and cyber-crime.

"The National Assembly has approved the Law on Internet Security, and it comes into effect from next July. It creates a strong protection on information security and fighting against hackers amid the boom of information technology," Hong said in the opening ceremony.

"The conference is an opportunity for Viet Nam to boost co-operation with international specialists in building a safe digital world. It's also a chance for the world to understand the real development of Viet Nam," he said, adding that information security had a vital role to play in business, especially with the increasing use of on-line transactions.

He said the conference would pave ways for further co-operation with local IT experts and world partners.

The Viet Nam Information Security Index (VNISA Index) in 2014 reached 39 per cent, a slight increase in comparison to 2013.

IT experts forecast information security services would gain in importance, and many businesses had been affected by the spread of new virus variants

Experts also said cyber attacks had also boomed, influencing national security and business activities, and internet crime via Vietnamese emails is increasing in frequency, making clear the need for improved network and information security.

According to a Viet Nam Information Security Association (VNISA) report, Viet Nam ranked fifth among 10 countries at highest risk of having its information security breached in 2010. According to a more recent survey of businesses by the association, 33 per cent said they had discovered network security attacks; 29 per cent were unaware their network had been attacked; and about 22 per cent responded that they did not understand the motivation behind the security attacks.

Allan Dyer, AVAR Chairman said: "We are facing an ever-changing and growing threat from malware, but our capability to protect and respond is also growing. I believe that the international and inter-organisational exchange and co-operation at the AVAR conferences through the years have made a significant contribution to those defences. I am sure that our 18th conference will continue that tradition."

He said AVAR is not just a conference for virus researchers; it is also particularly relevant to the business and technical needs of corporate IT professionals, students, educators, law enforcement, legislators and all those whose objectives are to ensure safe and secure computing and the security of the internet.

Vietnamese speakers Nguyen Le Thanh and Nguyen Phi Kha from Viet Nam Security discussed targeted attack operations against the internet industry in Viet Nam at the conference, sharing the details of some attack operations, including attack techniques, lateral movement tools, malware, C&C as well as useful techniques and tools they developed to detect and analyze related malwares.

Vietnam continues to experience a huge increase in the rate of targeted attacks but users rarely see the details of such attacks.

Viet Nam has a population of 90 million with 47 million internet users.