ThaiChana phone app launched to combat check-out, phishing problems 

By The Nation

 

 

The government has launched a ThaiChana (Thai Victory) smartphone app after complaints that shoppers were forgetting to check out on the platform, while phishing scams were targeting users with fake QR codes. 

 

The changes were made after criticism and recommendations from users, Polawat Witoolkollachit, inspector-general at the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, said on Thursday (May 28).

 

Meanwhile the platform has also been made multilingual. 

 

“We have developed the platform to support foreign languages such as English, Burmese, Malay, Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Lao, in order to facilitate foreigners,” he added.

 

The new smartphone app would enable people to check out of venues anytime, anywhere, and to evaluate venues faster.

 

“Most importantly, this application will help solve issues such as fake QR codes and users entering the wrong telephone number,” he said.

 

A list of venues already visited by users will also appear on the app, enabling users to check out at any time.

 

“However, we advise people to check out as fast as possible because only venues visited on that day will be displayed,” he said. “The app also allows people to find venues nationwide.”

 

The ThaiChana app is available for download via Google Play from today, added Polawat, while iPhone users can download it at the App Store from Sunday (May 31).

 

“We will not send out any SMS messages telling people to download the app,” he added.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30388668

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-05-28

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

In the last two official announcements about these apps, I see no mention at all of the function of actual tracing of contacts after someone tests positive. Is that no longer the central purpose of the app as it was described when it was first launched a couple of weeks ago?

 

And, to try to stave off the typical round of vague attacks...

 

Yes, I am a critical thinker and I ask questions, and...

No, I don't hate Thailand, don't love the lockdown measures, and don't want more people to be infected by Covid 19.

Edited May 28, 20206 yr by JCP108

8 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“However, we advise people to check out as fast as possible because only venues visited on that day will be displayed,”

as a lifetime IT guy who has designed many systems, this 'feature' is beyond stupid; simple history , say 30 days, is ....simple

We should never download any government application....!

"Contact tracing and notification"

Every 90 days we have to check in and notify Immigration of our residence, even though we may have never moved in years.

Now, they are going to be able to keep track of the entire population of Thailand? 

Edited May 29, 20206 yr by Curt1591

8 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

We should never download any government application....!

But leaving a digital footprint all over the net with social media is fine...........

and the link to this app is where?

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The ThaiChana app is available for download via Google Play from today

Is it??? Just checked and I can't find it!!!

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

ThaiChana phone app launched

 

Why do I have the feeling that this thing is only going to continue growing like a cancer...and...never go away?

 

 

I am all for prudent and sensible mitigation measures, but this type of app is and has been rolled out in other countries in different forms.

I may need to search more effectively but I can find no mention of when the various governments intend to "retire" these apps.

43 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

I am all for prudent and sensible mitigation measures, but this type of app is and has been rolled out in other countries in different forms.

I may need to search more effectively but I can find no mention of when the various governments intend to "retire" these apps.

Never, once you get to do this in every shop it'll never be walked backwards.

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Never, once you get to do this in every shop it'll never be walked backwards.

Of course it will be retired after corvid is really gone or there is a vaccin. You worry too much. People would protest for sure. But for now its a great idea and all over the world they are making such an app.

 

 

App will have access to your exact location and GPS

App will have access to your photos and video

App will have your true cell number

 

People are already reporting SMS spams after using the platform - where you at least have the option to list a landline I believe - this does not even allow that option.  

 

 

The above seems to have nothing to do with the app topic...

2 hours ago, terminatorchiangmai said:

and the link to this app is where?

"The Link" is Play Store, and it should be easy enough to just type in Thai Chana there - except at this point in time, there's no such app on Play Store...

2 hours ago, rtco said:

Is it??? Just checked and I can't find it!!!

Quote

 

The ThaiChana app is available for download via Google Play from today, added Polawat, while iPhone users can download it at the App Store from Sunday (May 31).

So I presume something has wrong with QR code check in ??

This link may work works.

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ktb.thaichana.prod&hl=en

 

 

Edited May 29, 20206 yr by mtls2005

6 minutes ago, cmsally said:

So I presume something has wrong with QR code check in ??

It worked and is still in use but many people fail to check out and once departed it was too late to do so if they remember later.  

17 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

This link may work?

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ktb.thaichana.prod&hl=en

That worked, thanks! Only I can't find the (claimed) English language setting... Oh well. TiT, after all.

Simple solution  excuse ….????  duo sim and Bluetooth dumb phone….it even make calls …..   no scanning , but can  take picture 

I would not use the app myself, if details other then mobile numbers are not accepted.

 

I keep on using the paper registration and screenshots of the thaichana web platform at low risk locations.

Only when they come up with a app which accepts email addresses I am in the game.

 

 

So in Google Play there is an app called MorChana developed by the government and one called ThaiChana which shows Krungthai Bank as the developer! Which is the official one?

Typical. Name on app is different than announced. It is MorChana in Google Store. 

 

Reading and article in Pattaya News this morning about privacy of Thai Chana, however in the article they said the government will be studying the data collected to see if people are maintaining social distancing and other precautions. Seems this will be used to see who and how close you get to others.

 

No more short-time privacy.

 

 

Of you look at the logo and graphics in the Nation article it shows what is on the  Thai Chana app developed by Krungthai Bank! The logo and graphics on Mor Chana are in no way even remotely similar to what was in the article and yet it is a government developed app! Utter shambles. And this new app was supposed to stop phishing and other problems with the original website system. CCSA needs to get a grip on this immediately.

Please stop the confusion!

It's "Thaichana" (see screenshot in the OP and post #18).

Morchana has nothing to do in this thread!

 

 

14 minutes ago, KhunKenAP said:

be studying the data collected to see if people are maintaining social distancing and other precautions. Seems this will be used to see who and how close you get to others.

Even with precise GPS location enabled this is not feasible in any way.

Other countries have/want apps based on bluetooth where you can come close to such idea.

 

I will switch off the GPS location feature on my phone and try the app with that.

Now at home I can at least get to the QR code scan.

 

I still doubt that the whole thing makes sense and will work.

 

 

35 minutes ago, AsiaCheese said:

That worked, thanks! Only I can't find the (claimed) English language setting... Oh well. TiT, after all.

Would you reveal where you found the language setting?

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

This link may work works.

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ktb.thaichana.prod&hl=en

 

 

(sorry, can show screenshot from mobile in German only )

Edited May 29, 20206 yr by KhunBENQ

For as long as it will be possible, I will use the old browser based system. I'm neither too demented to check out when leaving nor prone to falling prey to phishing attempts, but I can do without the additional risks that installing an app would subject me to.

Edited May 29, 20206 yr by Caldera

4 hours ago, Curt1591 said:

"Contact tracing and notification"

Every 90 days we have to check in and notify Immigration of our residence, even though we may have never moved in years.

Now, they are going to be able to keep track of the entire population of Thailand? 

yes indeed - just like China!