With an increase of cyber security incidents involving unauthorised securities transactions and ransomware attacks, the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) co-hosted a "Ransomware Attack by WannaCry" workshop with The Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) and the Microsoft Hong Kong Limited for local banks on May 23, and co-organised an "e-Security" workshop with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) for securities and brokerage firms on May 25. Over 450 practitioners of the financial services sector attended the workshops.

Superintendent Law Yuet-wing of the CSTCB delivered an opening address to the audiences on both occasions. Noting that cyber security threats were evolving, he stressed that cyber attacks to the financial services sector could weaken the stability of the local financial system and would have a significant impact on the public. Thus, the workshops were held to raise the practitioners' cyber security awareness, enhance their knowledge of cyber threats and brief them on the assistance offered by the CSTCB.

In the first workshop, experts from the Microsoft explained how the WannaCry ransomware infects computers, and they also proposed some corresponding measures. Then Senior Inspector (SIP) Wong Tik-ki shared tips to prevent cyber attacks. In the second workshop, SIP Wong Sai-kwan elaborated how cyber criminals obtained the login credentials of individuals via phishing emails. Afterwards, Mr Steve Poon from the SFC introduced the cybersecurity baseline control that would be launched by the SFC soon. The participants commended the organisers and the speakers for keeping their organisations informed of cyber security trends and the preventive measures.