Path to Thailand 4.0 is a cyber-minefield

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Path to Thailand 4.0 is a cyber-minefield 

By The Nation

 

Our phones have become wallets, so how do we defend against the pickpockets? 

 

As we head towards an online economy and society under the overarching vision of Thailand 4.0, cybersecurity has become crucial to our future stability.

 

The dangers of a globalised Internet have already wreaked havoc at a national level elsewhere. Last year, Bangladesh’s central bank lost US$101 million when hackers raided digital vaults via the Swift banking network.

 

More recently, Wannacry ransomware paralysed systems in countries around the world, including Thailand, extorting huge amounts of money to release data held hostage. 

 

But with Thailand eagerly promoting the use of electronic payment methods, the number of cyber-victims here is set to skyrocket unless preventive steps are taken.

 

Mobile and Internet banking services are also growing in popularity as Thai banks and financial technology (Fintech) start-ups race to offer more convenience to customers.

 

The government is also sponsoring the PromptPay e-payment platform as it makes the move towards a cashless society. 

 

While the benefits of moving money transactions online are obvious, so are the cybersecurity risks it brings.

 

Most of us wouldn’t think twice about paying a monthly home loan instalment at one of Bangkok’s popular coffee shops. Yet the unprotected free WiFi connection can also act as a gateway for cyber-thieves to divert your electronic transfer of funds. Public WiFi networks are now increasingly common – and just as insecure. Greater convenience here comes at the cost of greater risk.  

 

Part of the solution lies in raising public awareness via education campaigns and training in how to safely negotiate the new digital services for shopping, payments and other transactions.

 

Smartphones are now a major target of cyber-criminals as their number and use continues to grow sharply. 

 

In Thailand, the number of mobile phones now easily outstrips the country’s population of 65 million. Phone operators can play a helpful role by encouraging customers to install security software, especially important since more and more of us use our phones as payment devices.

 

The digital world is also expanding via the so-called Internet of Things. The number of devices connected up to the IoT will skyrocket to 25 billion by 2020, according to most estimates. IoT-enabled devices numbered about 9.5 billion in 2015 – overtaking the human population of 7.5 billion.

 

The IoT will encompass household devices such as coffee machines, refrigerators and ovens, along with medical devices like imaging machines, factory equipment and industrial machines. He potential for cyber-disruption is obvious.

 

Another significant threat lies in the growing use of digital fingerprints and facial recognition technology. Millions of smartphones now come equipped with this software, which is also featuring more and more in online services such as visa applications.

 

The resulting databases of millions of bio-identities will be the next big target for cyber-hijackers. Identity theft, already a huge problem, threatens to become a booming industry.     

 

All these potential threats need to be studied carefully by government and private sector experts as Thailand enters the era of connected economy and society.

 

A new age inevitably leads to new modes of crime and transgression. The challenge is to anticipate the dangers and develop new measures to combat them.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30329160

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-13

[alant]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

online services such as visa applications.

[JAG]

"Path to Thailand 4.0 is a cyber-minefield".

 

Fear not, armed with our trusty GT200 explosive detectors....

[quandow]

I used to be be a grumpy hold-out (my phone is used for phone calls only) then I saw the actual benefits of owning a smart phone. Point being, I CAN embrace new technology. HAVING SAID THAT, there is NO WAY IN HELL I would EVER set up my phone for banking purposes. From everything I've read, security is still in its infancy regarding smart phones and honestly how hard is it to carry cash or a credit card?

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Our phones have become wallets, so how do we defend against the pickpockets? 

No, to make you a slave. 

 

Understanding of programming in Thailand is low.  The US has to hire lots of foreign talent to keep pace.  Thailand has not even gotten to the point where it knows what it doesn't know.   

[Hank Gunn]

A simple three-letter acronym VPN (Virtual Private Network) can protect you from having sensitive data intercepted in non-secure, public networks like WiFi hotspots in malls and coffee shops. However, it probably won't be highly touted here because the use of such technology hides you from snooping government entities as well.

[ChrisY1]

Tried purchasing a ticket online with Thai Air and the site would not accept my Visa from an Aussie bank.....Thailand 4?...have a ways to go yet!

[yellowboat]

24 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

Tried purchasing a ticket online with Thai Air and the site would not accept my Visa from an Aussie bank.....Thailand 4?...have a ways to go yet!

They need to hire the best, most competent people available.  Where they come from should make no difference.

[Cadbury]

55 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

Tried purchasing a ticket online with Thai Air and the site would not accept my Visa from an Aussie bank.....Thailand 4?...have a ways to go yet!

Have had the same problem not just with Thai and Smile but other Asian airlines. Seems a red flag goes up for foreign bank cards used by people with farang names but living in Asian countries. But OK with Jetstar if you have an Australian address. Thailand 4.0 is on a zig-zag track downhill.

[Cadbury]

32 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

They need to hire the best, most competent people available.  Where they come from should make no difference.

Agreed but there are two small problems with that!

1. Thais think they are the best and most competent........at everything. Thus in Thailand people with double digit IQ's end up doing the jobs of people requiring IQ's of 110+. 

Example: Their slow speed railway engineers have to test and qualify Chinese high speed railway engineers.

2. Many Thais pay other Thais to get the top jobs even when their IQ's are in the 80 - 90 bracket (dullness). 

[Krataiboy]

2 hours ago, Hank Gunn said:

A simple three-letter acronym VPN (Virtual Private Network) can protect you from having sensitive data intercepted in non-secure, public networks like WiFi hotspots in malls and coffee shops. However, it probably won't be highly touted here because the use of such technology hides you from snooping government entities as well.

Right on. There have been reports that the Thai junta is planning to follow the example of its Chinese equivalents and ban VPN's.

[yellowboat]

Just now, Krataiboy said:

Right on. There have been reports that the Thai junta is planning to follow the example of its Chinese equivalents and ban VPN's.

But nobody is actually able to stop you from using a VPN.  The Chinese are way and above more advanced than Thais, so Thailand can only do what it is good at: posing, posturing, making grand gestures, talking and more talking, waving of the hands, make non substantive yet self congratulatory announcements.  In the end nothing, unless they can actually find some help.  Sadly, I remember a US company helped with the great firewall.  Thankfully, we can still tunnel through.  VPN's are for actual security of your private information.  Ridding the world of them will only make it easier for criminals. 

[Shaunduhpostman]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The digital world is also expanding via the so-called Internet of Things. The number of devices connected up to the IoT will skyrocket to 25 billion by 2020, according to most estimates. IoT-enabled devices numbered about 9.5 billion in 2015 – overtaking the human population of 7.5 billion.

 

The IoT will encompass household devices such as coffee machines, refrigerators and ovens, along with medical devices like imaging machines, factory equipment and industrial machines. He potential for cyber-disruption is obvious.

 

I'm pretty sure this involves and assumes Thailand will invest or someone will invest in 5G infrastructure which, from what I understand, sounds quite intensive and sounds as though it would need much maintenance, monitoring etc. As I understand it 5g will involve installing boxes on every street lamp blasting 5g signals into every house and building to read and send data, commands etc. I really wonder if Thailand is really up to this. I honestly hope not, there are some seriously disturbing aspects to 5g and it is being railroaded through everywhere you look before anyone seems to know what it is. The whole tone of this article is just another case in point, all of this is being presented as though it is all a done deal as tho it's horrible because Thailand hasn't gotten up to speed on security, but nothing we can do: Thailand 4.0 already, the cashless 5g society! This article is the first time I've ever heard anything about any of this coming here. And of course the red herring is "security" not the inherent alarming nature of what is being proposed is the focus of the article. If they were actually concerned about people and their security there would not be a rush on to get 5g and a cashless society, there would be discussions about the implications of what is being proposed with a cashless society run on 5g.

[PAIBKK]

Why they call it Thailand 4.0... Is it because they only can count using their fingers. For me they even haven't reached Thailand 1.0... Well, let's stick with Thailand 0.4, that sounds better and is more realitic !!!

[attrayant]

The good thing about digital transactions is that they’re always traceable. The aforementioned Bangladesh Central Bank Heist is a good example because the NY Fed was able to block 90% of the transactions before they went through and most of the transactions that were able to get through were traced and the funds recovered.

 

Imagine how much would have been recovered had that been cash.

 

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

But nobody is actually able to stop you from using a VPN. 

Beijing ordered state-owned telecoms China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom to bar individuals from using VPNs. Otherwise the telecoms will provide VPN services only for business purposes inside a company. And that requires a business to register with the government and promising to hand over user data (links in Chinese) to authorities when necessary.

https://qz.com/1026064/what-you-need-to-know-about-chinas-vpn-crackdown/

Some VPN providers say they can evade "detection." But if user is caught (ie., by non-cyber means such as informants), fines as a minimum might be the deterrent. Would a foreigner in China chance such a risk?

[attrayant]

Would a foreigner in China chance such a risk?

If I were in China, I’d opt for satellite internet service and bypass the government entirely.