Investigation and Security Measures Following Mobile Guardian App Breach
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the investigation into the August 2024 Mobile Guardian app breach and measures to protect students’ personal learning devices and data. Ms Joan Pereira and Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song inquired about the breach's cause, the frequency of penetration tests, and the status of resolving identified security vulnerabilities. They also asked if a May 2024 report was linked to the breach and what additional measures have been implemented to secure student devices. Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing replied that the Ministry of Education would provide a combined oral answer to these questions at the next available opportunity. He noted that the full response would be delivered during the September 10, 2024, sitting to address all related parliamentary questions together.
Transcript
20 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Education (a) whether investigations have identified the cause and possible security vulnerabilities that may have led to the breach of the Mobile Guardian app in August 2024; (b) whether the app's security vulnerabilities highlighted in a report dated 30 May 2024 and received by the Ministry are related to the subsequent cybersecurity breach in August 2024; and (c) what additional measures have been implemented to further secure the cybersecurity of all students' devices and data.
21 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Education before the security breach of Mobile Guardian in August 2024 (a) what are the dates of the most recent two vulnerability assessments and penetration tests (VAPT) conducted on the application; (b) how many vulnerability reports about Mobile Guardian have been submitted by members of the public; (c) whether all the vulnerabilities identified by each VAPT and vulnerability report have been resolved before the security breach; and (d) what is the frequency of VAPTs conducted on applications installed on students' personal learning devices.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Ministry of Education will provide an Oral Answer to these Parliamentary Questions, together with other Parliamentary Questions which have been filed on this topic, at the next available opportunity. [Please refer to "Investigation and Security Measures following Mobile Guardian App Breach", Official Report, 10 September 2024, Vol 95, Issue 141, Oral Answers to Questions section.]