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Showing posts with label Southeast Asia. Show all posts

Saturday, 12 August 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - August 11, 2017

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

Indonesia’s government has cancelled a ban on messaging app Telegram following a company decision to take measures to block unlawful content. Rudiantara, Indonesia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, has advised that other social media sites could be similarly evaluated in the future.

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

German law enforcement is now able to monitor Android, iOS, and BlackBerry devices with the assistance of Remote Communication Interception Software (RCIS). With this newfound ability to directly install backdoors on targeted devices, the government will no longer look to technology companies to do so.

China has asked Apple to remove Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) from the company’s app store—and Apple has listened. Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged, “We would obviously rather not remove the apps, but like we do in other countries, we follow the law wherever we do business.”

The United States-based Electronic Privacy Information Center has filed a legal complaint against Google in response to a new advertising program that links online behavior to in-person purchases—and gives Google access to the highly sensitive purchase history of millions of American shoppers. “Google is seeking to extend its dominance from the online world to the real, offline world, and the FTC really needs to look at that,” said Marc Rotenberg of the Federal Trade Commission.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

China’s Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology will soon release a quantum communications unit. To begin, the “unhackable” technology will connect 200 military, government, and financial officials in Shanghai and Beijing.

The 5th annual RSA Conference 2017 Asia Pacific & Japan was held in Singapore last month. Said RSA Conference Director Linda Gray Martin, “In recent months, we’ve seen more governments taking a pivotal role in shaping the cybersecurity landscape across Asia Pacific & Japan. The large turnout serves as a strong indicator that organizations are taking bolder steps towards their cybersecurity strategies.”

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

An anonymous hacker has taken 1.5 terabytes of data from television network HBO. The hacker claims to have material from ‘Game of Thrones’; the American network has thus far only confirmed that “some of our programming” was compromised.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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Friday, 28 July 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - July 28, 2017

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

Russia's legislature has passed a bill banning the use of virtual private networks, web proxies, and Tor. Thousands in Moscow protested the attack on a free and open internet; the legislation will next go to President Vladimir Putin for approval.

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Chinese telecommunications carrier Guangzhou Huoyun Information Technology has been directed to block virtual private networks (VPNs) that would otherwise be used to work around China’s Great Firewall. Said David Bandurski, editor of HKU’s China Media Project, “We can be sure that as the news in China increasingly goes digital, and as television goes mobile, the Cyberspace Administration of China’s power will grow.”

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

CyberSecurity Malaysia has announced plans to improve the country’s cyber resilience. CEO Amirudin Abdul Wahab reported, “The prevention of cyber-criminal activities is the most critical aspect in the fight against cybercrime. CyberSecurity Malaysia will continue to play a more aggressive role in educating the public on cyber security measures and helping curb cyber-criminal activities in Malaysia.”

The United States and Russia have entered talks to create a joint cybersecurity working group, but even US President Donald Trump has his concerns: “The fact that President Putin and I discussed a Cyber Security unit doesn’t mean I think it can happen. It can’t,” he said in a tweet.

The United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Strategy will soon include the opening of a cybersecurity innovation center in London. The center will invest in the technology necessary to make the UK a safe place for digital business and online activity.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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Thursday, 13 July 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - July 13, 2017

Privacy, Surveillance, and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

The United States Executive Office of the President has requested that secure voter registration data be sent to an insecure email address. Let’s Encrypt acknowledged, “Without point to point encryption anyone with access to the internet link between a user and their mail server, or between two mail servers, can see exactly what has been written, who wrote it, and who it is being sent to.”

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

A celebration of 25 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel included talks of cybersecurity cooperation. Said Israel’s Netanyahu, “Once it was a disadvantage to say that you are from Israel. Today when you talk about cyber or advanced technology, it is an advantage to say we are an Israeli company.”

Researchers in Switzerland have created Oblivious Ride (“ORide”), a method of encrypting data such as a user’s location and destination from American-based rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft. The technology remains unpatented in an effort to increase availability.

The United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has four new Active Cyber Defence measures, which will strive to make infrastructure, products, and services automatically safer to use while also increasing the cost to criminals when carrying out cyberattacks.

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

The website of South Africa’s Department of Basic Education experienced a cyberattack at the hands of Team System Dz, a hacking group in support of Isis. In response, the South African government took the website and the photos posted by Dz offline and opened an investigation into how the hacking had occurred.

Malware known as Petya first hit Ukraine, and then Russia, Europe, and the United States, affecting the Kiev international airport, Russian oil company Rosneft, and American pharmaceutical giantMerck. Raj Samani of McAfee reported, “Fundamentally, this was a wiper campaign. It appears to be a campaign meant for destruction or disruption.”

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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Thursday, 29 June 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - June 29, 2017

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

In a break with previous policy, interior minister Thomas de Maiziere has announced that Germany is in the process of creating a law that would allow the government to decipher and read the private encrypted messages of apps such as WhatsApp and Signal. “We can’t allow there to be areas that are practically outside the law,” stated de Maiziere.

A terrorist attack in London has prompted British Prime Minister Theresa May to call for greater international “regulation” of cyberspace. Specifically, May is calling for companies such as Facebook and WhatsApp to provide the British government with backdoor access to messages sent by terrorism suspects.

In a vote of 363-0, Russia’s State Duma has approved legislation that would outlaw anonymizing software. News source Meduza explained, “The bill’s sponsors would give the owners of VPN networks and internet anonymizers access to Russia’s registry of blocked online resources, so they could cut access to these websites. Any Internet circumvention tools that refuse to block access to banned resources would themselves be blocked.”

A draft report from the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs has proposed end-to-end encryption for all “electronic communication data”. The legislation aims to protect communication such as “calls, internet access, instant messaging applications, email, internet phone calls and messaging provided through social media.”

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Pakistani man Taimoor Raza has been sentenced to death for committing an act of blasphemy on Facebook when he unknowingly engaged in an online debate about Islam with a counterterrorism officer. Raza is one of 15 individuals to be arrested in a recent crackdown on internet blasphemy.

Tweets from Pavel Durov of Russia's Telegram indicate that United States intelligence agencies have tried to bribe the company to weaken its messaging app’s encryption. Durov stated that the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has similarly pressured his company.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

A Bangkok agreement marks the beginning of increased cybercrime cooperation between Australia, Thailand, Singapore and China. Said Australia’s Tobias Feakin, “Criminals and nefarious actors can adapt and absorb all [this information] so much quicker than governments. So if we’re not talking about it, sharing best practice and keeping on the move as well then we will soon find ourselves behind by quite a margin.”

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

A “sustained and determined” cyberattack took advantage of weak email passwords used by members of the British parliament recently. Said Liam Fox, minister for international trade, “We know that our public services are attacked so it’s not at all surprising that there should be an attempt to hack into parliamentary emails.”

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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

Thursday, 20 April 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - April 20, 2017

Change Is Coming to SumRando - Stay Tuned!

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

New United States legislation has prompted Americans everywhere to turn to VPNs to protect their ISPs: “We saw a noticeable increase [in downloads] around the time Congress was considering the bill until the time Trump signed it,” reported Caleb Chen of London Trust Media. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are now free to collect and resell personal and browsing data to ad targeters and data brokers alike.

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

The United States’ National Security Agency (NSA) has penetrated the SWIFT banking network and monitored various Middle East banks, according to anonymous hacker Shadow Brokers. The released files reveal vulnerabilities in several Microsoft Windows products.

The Iranian government is requiring “Telegram channels with more than 5,000 followers to register with the country’s Culture Ministry.” The block of the encrypted messaging app precedes upcoming national elections; between 16,000 and 20,000 Telegram channels were blocked each week in March.

Ugandan academic and activist Stella Nyanzi has been charged with cyber-harassment. Her crime? Labeling President Yoweri Museveni a “pair of buttocks” on Facebook. According to her lawyer, “Dr. Nyanzi is within her constitutional rights and we are for an all-out legal battle with the state to defend her rights.”

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has asked social media activists to defend the government via cyberspace: “We have long been in defensive mode. Enough. It is now time to attack,” reads a post on najibrazak.com.

Germany’s Cyber-Security Council and Israel’s Checkmarx have opened a joint international chapter. “Cyber threats are not bound to national borders, so that transnational cooperation and networking is inevitable for the exchange of know-how and best practices,” acknowledged Council president Philipp von Saldern.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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Tuesday, 28 March 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - March 27, 2017

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Foreign governments have the right to spy on Americans by remote control, says a United States Court of Appeals decision. The verdict was in response to the case of Kidane v. Ethiopia, in which Mr. Kidane was monitored by the Ethiopian government in his United States home via computer malware.

Privacy International has found that Kenyan security agencies are violating privacy rights and committing human rights abuses. “Telecommunications operators end up handing over their customers’ data because they largely feel that they cannot decline agencies’ requests, in part due to the vagueness in the law,” acknowledged the report.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

Microsoft is opening a cybersecurity center in Mexico. “By opening this Cyber Security Center, we are offering our clients protection from attacks and security risks, as well as ways to detect them and find solutions,” noted Jorge Silva of Microsoft Mexico.

The National University of Singapore now has a cybersecurity facility, which aims to provide a “realistic environment” for research and testing.

The United Kingdom’s GCHQ recently held a cybersecurity summit in response to fears a Russian hack would interfere with the country’s upcoming election. Of particular concern were the security of internal emails and databases of voters’ political views.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

Want more emerging economy cyber alerts? Read on!

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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!

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.

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).

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

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

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!

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!