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Wednesday, 10 May 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - May 10, 2017

Wait For It - Change Is Coming to SumRando!

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

A new Rwandan draft law has established the National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA). The Bill intends to protect private and government information from cyberattacks and cybercrime.

Kenya expects the president will sign a Computer and Cybercrime Bill into law before 2018. The Bill will address illegal online access, online fraud, money laundering, phishing, cyber-stalking and child abuse.

New metadata retention laws in Australia are sending many internet users straight to their nearest VPN. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and telco companies are now required to collect and retain customer metadata, including personal information and mode, location, and length of communication.

A draft Russian bill hopes to block anonymous proxies and VPN services that continue to provide access to forbidden websites. Currently, 100 ban-bypassing resources are blocked in Russia.

Privacy, Surveillance, and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

The United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has revealed that it can share encrypted data regarding terrorists and criminals with India via the internet. “Sometimes, the data comes in months or years, and sometimes, by the time we approach the authorities there, private companies don’t keep backup, or it is not possible to decrypt everything on the internet,” clarified a National Investigation Agency official.

Israel’s NSO Group is thought to be responsible for the Chrysaor malware. The malware is an adaptation of Pegasus and is used to spy on Android phones.

Turkey recently blocked access to Wikipedia, in protest of the online encyclopedia’s inclusion of articles that link Ankara to terrorism. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales countered the decision: “Access to information is a fundamental human right. Turkish people, I will always stand with you to fight for this right.”

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

In a European first, the United Kingdom’s Cardiff University has launched the Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Analytics. In conjunction with Airbus, the center will study machine learning, data analytics and artificial intelligence.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.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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Monday, 9 January 2017

Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts - January 9, 2017

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

Comando de Defesa Cibernetica (ComDCiber), has been approved by the Brazilian Army as the country’s new cyber defense command. ComDCiber is tasked with protecting Brazil’s online infrastructure.

The Turkish government has plans to recruit hundreds of cybersecurity professionals from universities. In 2016 alone, Turkey experienced 90 million cyberattacks.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, minister of telecom, IT and law for India, has asked Google to support the country’s cybersecurity efforts: “I want Google to be involved in a more meaningful way. The more digital India becomes, there would be challenges. I would appeal to Google to work more to ensure digital security.”

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

Last February’s theft of $81 million from Bangladesh’s central bank is now thought to have been an inside job. Bangladesh Police Deputy Inspector General, Mohammad Shah Alam, believes bank IT technicians created the conditions that provided access to hackers.

SumTips

Make 2017 Your Most Cybersecure Year Yet

In 2016, news worldwide shifted from headlines of massive security breaches to those of initiatives taken by countries, companies and consumers to prevent future disruptions. Start the new year off right by joining the security bandwagon. If you haven't found a lasting new years resolution yet, here's one: commit to logging into SumRando VPN every time you use the internet in 2017.

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!

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!

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

Thursday, 10 November 2016

Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts - November 10, 2016

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

At Egypt’s 5th Regional Cybersecurity Summit Yasser ElKady, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, shared government plans to initiate an electronic signature and informatics crime law, a cybersecurity law and a decree to form a supreme council of cybersecurity. “Cyberattacks pose as grave a threat as terrorism,” explained ElKady.

China has a new cybersecurity law that will restrict the role of foreign technology companies and further censor the country’s internet. Responded Human Rights Watch’s Sophie Richardson, “Despite widespread international concern from corporations and rights advocates for more than a year, Chinese authorities pressed ahead with this restrictive law without making meaningful changes.”

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Turkey has taken censorship to a whole new level. Last week the country blocked Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites—and then prevented access to circumvention tools such as Tor and several Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as well.

India is in the process of purchasing technology that will enable it to unlock hard-to-crack iPhone encryption. India’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) predicts it will become a resource for foreign governments in search of decryption support.

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

In what is thought to be practice for a larger upcoming attack, a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack sent all of Liberia’s internet offline last week, marking the first time a DDoS attack has disrupted an entire country’s internet.

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!

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

SumTips: 5 Human Rights Violations Not to Be Ignored

A Thai tourism video directed by Bandit Thongdee has fallen victim to government censors. The video included four individuals in Khon masks, including a depiction of Ramakien king Thotsakan, which the culture ministry found “inappropriate”. As a result, an edited version of the video was released this week.

A debate over the thin line between respecting a nation’s heritage and infringing upon freedom of expression has ensued, culminating in a Change.org petition that quickly reached its goal of 70,000 signatures. The petition, which challenged the decision to censor Thongdee’s work, has since been delivered to Thailand’s Ministry of Culture and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Although its results remain to be seen, the signers of the petition should celebrate the fact that their efforts were heard, a dream that does not always become a reality for Change.org petitions. Of note:

On April 7, 2016, the Institute of Technology and Society (ITS) of Rio submitted a petition titled, “Don’t let web censorship happen. We stand for the freedom of Brazilian Internet!” in response to the proposal of eight bills aimed at controlling the Internet. To date, the petition has received 90,000 of the 150,000 signatures needed for it to reach the National Parliament of Brazil.

On March 4, 2016, the Index on Censorship submitted a petition titled, “End Turkey’s crackdown on press freedom” in response to the seizure of Zaman, an independent Turkish media group. A week after the petition started, Index on Censorship announced a continued need to fight against the continued crackdown on press freedom; Zaman, the country’s most circulated newspaper, has since taken a markedly pro-government stance. To date, the petition has received 3,500 of the 5,000 signatures needed for it to reach President Recep Tayyip Edogan.

On February 20, 2016, the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) submitted a petition titled, “Solidarity with Ahmed Naji: Egypt Prosecutes Creativity and Freedom of Expression” in response to the novelist’s two-year prison sentence on grounds of “harming public morality”. Just this month, the petition was updated to inform supporters of ways to wish a happy birthday to the still-imprisoned Naji. To date, the petition has received 9,000 of the 10,000 signatures needed for it to reach the International Community of Scholars, Novelists and Journalists.

On December 3, 2015, the Change Vigilantes Organization submitted a petition titled, “Nigerians Say ‘NO’ To Social Media Censorship by Government” in response to a proposed social media law that would “suppress, censor and criminalize free speech”. In May of 2016, the harmful legislation was thrown out; whether it returns remains to be seen. To date, the petition has received approximately 500 of the 1,000 signatures needed for it to reach the National Assembly, Senate President Bukola Saraki, National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and President Muhammadu Buhari.

On October 3, 2015, Mohamed Najem of Lebanon submitted a petition titled, “Release my wrongfully accused friend, open-Internet advocate Bassel Khartabil (Safadi), from Syrian prison” in response to the computer engineer and internet access advocate’s arrest on grounds of “harming state security”. In March of 2016, the petition was updated with a simple question—Where is Bassel?—and a link to freebassel.org. To date, the petition has received 47,000 of the 50,000 signatures needed for it to reach the Syrian regime.

Advocate for change, surf secure and stay Rando!

Image credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

Want more SumTips? Read on!

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

Friday, 9 September 2016

Digital Divide: Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts - September 9, 2016

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

In President Recep Erdogan’s latest move to punish those attempting to overthrow him, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Paypal were blocked in Turkey last weekend. Undeterred, many citizens were able to access these sites via VPN.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

At the 18th Annual General Meeting of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) and its accompanying ‘Cyber Enabled Crime Table-Top Exercise,’ Rwandan President Paul Kagame spoke about the need to balance progress and security: “Africa is getting connected to broadband at one of the fastest rates in the world. The dangers are real but we cannot afford to allow the pace of development and progress to be slowed down as a result. Close collaboration is needed to investigate these complex crimes and to secure the extradition and conviction of suspects.” EAPCCO brings together 13 African nations.

India and the United Kingdom have agreed to cybersecurity cooperation with a Memorandum of Understanding: “With this MoU, participating countries can exchange technical information on cyber attacks, [respond] to cyber security incidents and find solutions to counter the cyber attacks.”

Mauritius recently hosted a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Workshop on Cybersecurity and PKI (public key infrastructure) for participants from countries including Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation Etienne Sinatambou shared, “We must continue to build our collective capabilities to fight cyber threats, share information and work together to safeguard our cyberspace, the privacy of our people and the ideas and innovations of our countries.”

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has intercepted a series of cyberattacks on government agencies from overseas actors. “The attackers managed to exploit existing loopholes through email servers. The relevant authorities are taking the required preventive measures,” reported the Saudi interior ministry.

Kaspersky Lab’s annual Latin America analyst conference did not paint a pretty picture: the meeting predicted a rise in cybersecurity threats in the next year, citing Brazil as a particular cause for concern: “Brazil will become increasingly interesting as a target – there is a lot of scientific research going on there, with large companies with a global footprint like [aircraft manufacturer] Embraer, as well as oil and gas giants which could be vulnerable to potential security disasters.”

Looking Back

a new glimpse at old alerts

Previously, in Taiwan, hackers stole more than $2 million USD from ATMs. Now, Russian Rustam Shambasov and other Eastern Europeans are suspected of stealing $350,000 USD from Thai ATMs. The attack is a reminder of Thailand’s reputation as a hub for cybercrime, both domestic and foreign.

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!