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Showing posts with label Asia. Show all posts

Friday, 1 September 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - August 25, 2017

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

Donald Trump has raised the status of the United States Cyber Command to that of a Unified Combatant Command. According to the American president's statement, the Obama-era policy “will strengthen our cyberspace operations and create more opportunities to improve our Nation’s defense.”

Privacy, Surveillance, and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Human rights groups are calling for the release of Radio France Internationale correspondent Ahmed Abba, who is serving a ten-year sentence in Cameroon for coverage related to the activities of Boko Haram. Said Reporters Without Borders’ Clea Kahn-Sriber, “The campaign will grow in strength if the authorities do not free Ahmed Abba.” #FreeAhmedAbba

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

The second Japan-India Cyber Dialogue has strengthened the two nations’ commitment to an “open, free, secure, stable, peaceful and accessible” cyberspace. The dialogue will continue in Tokyo in 2018.

United States-based Apple has added an ‘Emergency SOS’ feature to its iPhone; hitting the power button 5 times will lock the fingerprint scanner and call the police, prohibiting attackers from forcing a phone to be unlocked.

China now has a cybercourt—a place to resolve online disputes. Said cybercourt Chief Justice Du Qian, “Not only will this make lawsuits as convenient as online shopping, but it will also give online shopping the same degree of judicial protection as consumption at bricks-and-mortar stores.”

Dr. Darren Wilkins, Managing Director of the Liberia Telecommunication Corporation, took advantage of a national cybersecurity forum to ask that greater attention be paid to digital safety: “We live in a time of rapid technology and social changes. The uncomfortable and inconvenient truth is that the more we experience these technological and social changes, the more we are vulnerable to cyber threats.”

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

State-owned and private Ukrainian lenders have been warned of a new malware threat: “The nature of this malicious code, its mass distribution, and the fact that at the time of its distribution it was not detected by any anti-virus software, suggest that this attack is preparation for a mass cyber-attack on the corporate networks of Ukrainian businesses,” stated a letter from the Ukrainian central bank.

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All cyber alert images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com; SumRando Stash image credit of sumrando.com.

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Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - February 21, 2017

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has announced that it will create a commission to establish cybersecurity policies and reviews. Internet products and services that affect national security or the public interest will be subject to a security review.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

India's Software Freedom Law Centre now maintains an online Internet Shutdown Tracker. Says the organization, "We aim to stand strong with the message that the information superhighway that is the Internet is essential for the holistic socio-economic and cultural development of the country. #KeepItOn."

IBM’s Digital-Nation Africa is launching in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt. The project aims to prepare individuals for careers in cybersecurity, data science, artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have formed a joint project known as the Bio-Inspired Agile Cyber Security Assurance Framework (BICSAF). Professor Lam Khin Yong reported the project “will be able to develop innovative methods for combating one of the most complicated problems in cyber security – Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs).”

Finland, a country known for its internet security, will open a cybersecurity hub in Helsinki this year. The center will work to stop cyberwarfare threats and will involve the cooperation of the United States, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Poland and the Baltic States.

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

Cybercrime cost Kenya Sh17.7 billion, or .28% of its GDP, in 2016, the highest of all African countries. The east African nation is ranked as the 69th most vulnerable country in the Global Threat Index.

Lion Soldiers Team, a Turkish hacking group, has claimed responsibility for an attack that disrupted the website of the Austrian parliament. On Facebook, the group announced, “Our reaction will be harsh in response to this racism of Austria against Muslims!!! (Parliament down.).”

Japan experienced a record-setting 128.1 billion cyberattacks in 2016. The highest number of attacks from any single country came from China.

Looking Back

a new glimpse at past alerts

An unsigned United States cybersecurity executive order has been revised to reflect a more moderate agenda: “Much of this quite literally could have been written by the Obama administration,” reported Paul Rosenzweig, a former member of the Department of Homeland Security. Whether or when President Trump will sign the revamped executive order remains uncertain.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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Tuesday, 14 February 2017

SumTips: Where Art Is Under Attack

Independent organization Freemuse, or Freedom of Musical Expression, recently released “Art Under Threat”, a 46-page report on censorship and attacks on artistic expression in 2016. The results reveal that freedom of expression for artists is a global concern, with 1,028 attacks occurring in 78 countries worldwide. Top offenders include:

6 Serious Violators:

1.    Iran: “Artists are often charged with and sentenced for “insulting the sacred”, “propaganda against the state” or “spreading depravity”. Iranian courts use the “assembly line” method for prosecuting artists and other citizens, and barbaric methods, such as lashing, to punish convicts. On 5 November 2016, Iranian singer Amir Tataloo was sentenced to five years in prison and 74 lashes after being found guilty of ‘spreading Western immorality’.”

2.    Turkey: “The attempted coup against President Erdoğan on 15 July 2016 and the following State of Emergency led to a clampdown on oppositional voices in Turkey hitting media, academia and the arts world hard, literally silencing and imprisoning tens of thousands of people.”

3.    Egypt: “Article 65 in Egypt’s 2014 constitution grants citizens the right to express their opinions verbally, in writing, through imagery, or by any other means of expression and publication. Another article guarantees freedom of artistic and literary creativity stating that “the state shall encourage arts and literature, sponsor creative artists and writers and protect their productions, and provide the means necessary for achieving this end”. However, Egypt’s legislation still allows for the jailing of artists and citizens on the charge of ‘contempt of religion’.”

4.    Nigeria: “Artists face a complex system of censorship carried out by a variety of actors, further complicated by multiple censorship boards. In addition to the national censorship boards, states such as Kano in the North and Lagos in the South even have their own censorship boards, with the consequence that artists and cultural producers of these states face double censorship mechanisms.”

5.    China: “In China, legal bodies are not separated from political institutions and opinions considered in opposition with the government and country’s “One China” policy are not allowed. Censorship of arts, media and academia is widespread. “Objectionable” content, including references to controversial Chinese historical details, Chinese politics, details about Chinese leaders, sexually explicit material and, in some instances, material relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues are not allowed.”

6.    Russia: “Nationalism and political allegiance also continue to drive what type of art is allowed on stage and in halls, or what is funded by state coffers. Plays are vetted and cancelled for their political and moral content and artists are blacklisted for their political views on issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”

Top 10 Countries for ‘Serious Violations’—killings, abductions, attacks, imprisonments, prosecutions, persecutions and threats:
1.    Iran: 30 serious violations
2.    Turkey: 23 serious violations
3.    Egypt: 18 serious violations
4.    Nigeria: 15 serious violations
5.    China: 14 serious violations
6.    Russia: 10 serious violations
7.    Syria: 4 serious violations
8.    Malaysia: 4 serious violations
9.    Tanzania: 4 serious violations
10.   Uzbekistan: 4 serious violations

Top 10 Countries for Acts of Censorship:
1.    Ukraine: 557 censorship violations
2.    Kuwait: 61 censorship violations
3.    China: 20 censorship violations
4.    Egypt: 19 censorship violations
5.    India: 17 censorship violations
6.    Russia: 16 censorship violations
7.    Turkey: 13 censorship violations
8.    United States: 13 censorship violations
9.    Pakistan: 11 censorship violations
10. Iran: 9 censorship violations

Support the arts, surf secure and stay Rando!

Image credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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Friday, 10 February 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - February 10, 2017

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

After much talk of efforts to enhance United States government cybersecurity capabilities, United States President Donald Trump did not follow through on signing a cybersecurity overhaul executive order. The event marks the second time in a week that the president has neglected to sign an executive action.

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

when government isn't on your side

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) and Citizen Lab have concluded that Egyptian human rights groups are being targeted by an Egyptian intelligence agency phishing campaign. Those targeted are NGOs accused by the government of receiving illegal foreign funding.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

Australia and Indonesia have agreed to fight terrorism through strengthened mutual cybersecurity. Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto of Indonesia noted that he expects “tighter and stronger cooperation in law and security.”

ISACA, an association previously known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, will host information technology and cybersecurity events in the African countries of Egypt and Ghana this year. The Best of Cybersecurity Nexus (CSX) will take place in Cairo in July; the Africa Computer Audit, Control and Security (CACS) will be held in Accra in September.

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

The United States Treasury Department is allowing new cybersecurity transactions with the Russian Federal Security Service. According to the Russian Duma’s Nikolai Kovalyov, “This shows that actual joint work on establishing an anti-terrorism coalition is about to begin,” but United States Representative Eric Swalwell had different ideas: “This is the same group that, just a month ago, our intelligence community determined was responsible for the attack on our democracy. We just made it easier for the same group to import into Russia the tools they could use to hack us or our allies again.”

Looking Back

a new glimpse at past alerts

#TurnOnVPN has countered concerns that all VPN usage is now illegal in China. According to the non-partisan organization, Chinese businesses are forbidden from using VPNs, but individuals are not.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

Want more emerging economy cyber alerts? Read on!

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SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!

Tuesday, 31 January 2017

Digital Divide: Cyber Alerts Worldwide - January 31, 2017

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

South Africa’s new Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill is on its way to Parliament; Michalsons law firm is amongst those concerned: “The Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill gives the South African Police and the State Security Agency extensive powers to investigate, search, access, and seize just about anything.”

Draft regulations look to further crackdown on internet freedom in China: “Any overseas connections that are not approved will be blocked. Once the communication is cut off, it is the equivalent of a wall; there will be no holes for VPN to drill through,” reported the Hong Kong Internet Society.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

United States-based encrypted email service Lavabit was relaunched last week, offering three levels of security: Trustful, Cautious and Paranoid. In 2013, when faced with a government request for access to Edward Snowden’s account, Lavabit shut down rather than compromise its users’ security.

Indian companies such as Innefu have begun to shift from using human intelligence to using artificial intelligence to analyze data. “Cyber warfare isn’t a movie, it’s happening right now…We lost out on the industrial revolution, we lost out on the defence revolution – let’s not lose out in the cyber revolution,” argued Innefu’s Tarun Wig.

The Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, a partnership between the University of New Brunswick and IBM, opened last week. The institute will serve as a center for research and to develop cybersecurity professionals.

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

Indian horse racing website, Racingpulse.in, was recently hacked with the Dharma Ransomware Trojan in an attack that seized all of the website’s files. Website editor Sharan Kumar plans to move the website’s servers, currently located in the United States, elsewhere.

A December power outage in Ukraine has been determined to be a cyber attack. Hackers worked undetected in power supplier Ukregergo’s IT network for six months before launching an attack considered to be one of the first to affect civilian access to heat and light.

Looking Back

a new glimpse at past alerts

United States-based WhatsApp has denied the security vulnerability reported by Tobias Boelter, but Steffen Tor Jensen of the European-Bahraini Organisation for Human Rights disagrees: “WhatsApp can effectively continue flipping the security keys when devices are offline and re-sending the message, without letting users know of the change [until] after it has been made, providing an extremely insecure platform.”

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

Want more emerging economy cyber alerts? Read on!

Want Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletter ("Security Tips and News" at bottom of page).

Have valuable insight to share from your part of the world? Write for us!

SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!

Monday, 16 January 2017

Digital Divide: Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts - January 16, 2017

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

The Nigerian government is unprepared for cybercrime in 2017, reports the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN). Concerns for the coming year include CEO email scams, ransomware, assisted online kidnapping, cyber bullying and impersonation.

Top cybersecurity officials in China have pledged their loyalty to President Xi Jinping’s leadership. Priorities for 2017 include cleaning up cyberspace, strengthening cybersecurity, promoting IT and creating tighter overall internet controls for China.

Looking Back

a new glimpse at past alerts

December’s cyberattacks against the Thai government in response to an unfavorable computer crime law amendment have now been met with a response of its own: Thailand’s government has begun to recruit civilian “cyber warriors” to protect against future attacks.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

Want more emerging economy cyber alerts? Read on!

Want Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletter ("Security Tips and News" at bottom of page).

Have valuable insight to share from your part of the world? Write for us!

SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!

Monday, 2 January 2017

Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts - January 2, 2017

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Messaging app Signal is currently inaccessible in Egypt. Users looking for a workaround have turned to VPNs and Tor; the government has not offered a reason for the ban.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

The Cyberspace Administration of China has released a 15-page cybersecurity strategy. “The government will firmly safeguard cyberspace sovereignty and national security, protect key information infrastructure and crack down on cyber terror and crimes.”

President Barack Obama has signed the United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016. American Representative Jim Langevin reported, “Cybersecurity is the national and economic security challenge of our time, and we must use every resource at our disposal to support research, foster innovation, and fortify our cyber defenses.”

More than 50 Thai government officials were recently trained in cyber defense by the NEC Corporation. The training aimed to improve the ability of systems administrators to respond to cyberattacks.

Looking Back

a new glimpse at past alerts

6 Thai government websites were taken offline by an attack carried out in response to the passage of a cybercrime law amendment that will only worsen freedom of expression; to date, 9 individuals have been detained.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

Want more emerging economy cyber alerts? Read on!

Want Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletter ("Security Tips and News" at bottom of page).

Have valuable insight to share from your part of the world? Write for us!

SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!

Thursday, 22 December 2016

Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts - December 22, 2016

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

Thailand has amended its cybercrime law, in a move that will only strengthen government surveillance and censorship. State officials no longer need court approval to access service provider data or to remove websites that threaten national security or “good morals”.

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Turkey had blocked the Tor anonymity network and Tor browser. Now, following the assassination of a Russian ambassador to Turkey, social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are also banned.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

India’s National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) and the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) have released a report entitled, “Growing Cyber Security Industry: Road-map for India”. Said Nasscom’s president, “A list of 16 initiatives has been formulated by NASSCOM-DSCI to make India a global cyber-security hub. These vary in terms of priority and should be pursued within the next five years.”

The United States’ Freedom of the Press Foundation has published an open letter, signed by 150 documentary filmmakers and photojournalists, asking Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fuji and Olympus to include encryption features in their cameras. “Without encryption capabilities, photographs and footage that we take can be examined and searched by the police, military, and border agents in countries where we operate and travel, and the consequences can be dire,” argued the letter.

The France-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently weighed in on the encryption conversation in an 85-page report. “What ultimately matters, from a human rights perspective, is that cryptographic methods empower individuals in their enjoyment of privacy and freedom of expression, as they allow for the protection of human-facing properties of information, communication and computing,” recommended UNESCO.

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

Police in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Nigeria are working to stop an international group that has scammed 86 women out of HK$58 million. The women, largely educated and computer-proficient, were victimized by online promises of love that developed into requests for money and technology.

Looking Back

a new glimpse at past alerts

Edward Snowden followed up last week’s conversation with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey with an ask for encrypted direct messages on the United States-based platform. Dorsey responded that Twitter would consider such a move towards enhanced security.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

Want more emerging economy cyber alerts? Read on!

Want Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletter ("Security Tips and News" at bottom of page).

Have valuable insight to share from your part of the world? Write for us!

SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!