"ThaiChana" app not linked to gambling spam, developer and ministry clarify

By The Nation

 

 

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) and the developers of the ThaiChana application have confirmed that the gambling message that some users receive is not related to their registering for the app.

 

Meanwhile, the ministry's deputy permanent secretary acknowledged that there are groups trying to break into the data bank.

 

Users of iOS smartphones complained last week that they had been receiving spam messages related to gambling after downloading the "ThaiChana" application.

 

Somkid Jiranuntarat, one of the developers of the "ThaiChana" platform, explained on Sunday (May 31) that the spam occurring on the iOS system via iMessage is not related to "ThaiChana". He said  currently the ThaiChana app is available only on Android.

 

He assured users that they do not need to worry about data privacy since the system uses GPS-specific data and uses the camera only when scanning QR codes, so there is no access to images or profile views which generally does not easily leak.

 

Putchapong Nodthaisong, deputy permanent secretary at the DES, said the developer had never installed an SMS-sending system in "ThaiChana", but the case is now being investigated by the Technology Crime Suppression Division.

 

"We have been investigating for a while, knowing that many groups are trying to use the ThaiChana app for personal benefit and would like to ask the public not to click on the link," said the DES secretary.

 

Prinya Hom-anek, a cybersecurity expert, confirmed that it was a misunderstanding because he had received the same message on his smartphone that had never been used to scan the ThaiChana app.

 

The application requests very little permission to access the rights of users, compared to other apps; there is only a request to access the photo feature necessary to scan QR codes, for check-in and check-out.

 

The message being sent is the iMessage associated with email account and location which has been happening for 10 years, but Apple's operating system still cannot solve the problem except blocking some parts as hackers try to hack in all the time.

 

He believes that hackers are trying to access the internet banking data of consumers.

 

Therefore, consumers must understand and not click on messages or spam.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30388837

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-06-01

 

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oops...

My wife used her ph for the first time while at the mall the other day. Within 12 hrs she is receiving spam on her phone,now she just signs the paper instead.

The problem hasn't been happening on my Apple for ten years and I have downloaded many apps. So, it is a problem with this app. Not going to download it.

 

Also, how is it happening on Apple phones if the app isn't available on ios yet? Confused.

I’m receiving spam SMS since a couple of days on my iPhone and I neither have downloaded this app nor have I given my number in any of those big books at a department store or mall. 

Finally got one of these spam messages yesterday after signing in at HomePro. It seems it is now becoming very common as my wife got one last week too. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Somkid Jiranuntarat, one of the developers of the "ThaiChana" platform, explained on Sunday (May 31) that the spam occurring on the iOS system via iMessage is not related to "ThaiChana". He said  currently the ThaiChana app is available only on Android.

Obviously there is some work required to make this safe for use, I do believe this system was developed as a joint venture between our friends the Chinese & Thailand (probably more input from the Chinese), therefore there are understandably concerns over using this item as we all know how the Chinese love to control......!!!!

I have received several over the past week, and I don't have that app.. They show as addressed to my name as it is recorded in my phone address  book. Don't know if that means someone has somehow accessed my  address book.

8 minutes ago, phetphet said:

I have received several over the past week, and I don't have that app.. They show as addressed to my name as it is recorded in my phone address  book. Don't know if that means someone has somehow accessed my  address book.

Have you by chance signed into any establishment with name and phone number?  I would highly suspect some stores are making lists available to spammers - so always put down your land line phone number (still could get a cold call but much less likely than SMS spam and still protected in case of covid).

I don't have the app.  I have never had to sign in at a store yet either.  I have been getting a lot of spam SMS from numbers starting with 02 in the last week or so.  Keep reporting and blocking them but the numbers keep changing.

 

My guess is that the carriers are selling their numbers for extra revenue.

Edited June 1, 20206 yr by rwill

fake name & fake number works great against spam

 

why businesses don't use their customers fidelity card, to do all the <deleted> tracking ????

 

anyway, for a 0.2 percent corona death rate in really sick people, everybody just gives up their privacy ?

 

lockdown is for sick people, well, enough of those in the brain in power

Edited June 1, 20206 yr by Bender Rodriguez

3 hours ago, Titan1962 said:

My wife used her ph for the first time while at the mall the other day. Within 12 hrs she is receiving spam on her phone,now she just signs the paper instead.

I was one step ahead of your missus, I refused to scan Thaichana from day One !

My signature is all they get.

Why do you think it is not available for IOS / Apple ???
If it was safe it would be there, wouldn't it ????

5 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Have you by chance signed into any establishment with name and phone number?  I would highly suspect some stores are making lists available to spammers - so always put down your land line phone number (still could get a cold call but much less likely than SMS spam and still protected in case of covid).

The thing is, because I have two phones, my name in my Thai phone is Xxxx's Thai Phone.

This shows up on the messages for some reason. It is mainly that which made me delete them immediately. It's as if I sent them to myself.

6 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Obviously there is some work required to make this safe for use, I do believe this system was developed as a joint venture between our friends the Chinese & Thailand (probably more input from the Chinese), therefore there are understandably concerns over using this item as we all know how the Chinese love to control......!!!!

I Dun mind cute Chinese mingle taking full control of me in da bed teeheehee... 

11 hours ago, BobbyL said:

Finally got one of these spam messages yesterday after signing in at HomePro. It seems it is now becoming very common as my wife got one last week too. 

ive had it a few times too, homepro, today after a 7-11