More network attacks reported, no more money spent on information security

More network attacks reported, no more money spent on information security

VietNamNet Bridge – More and more network attacks have been reported recently, where hackers not only target the websites of organizations and businesses, but information security companies as well.

Meanwhile, according to Ngo Viet Khoi from Trend Micro Vietnam, the awareness of Vietnamese businesses about the information security has been improved, but the investment is still much lower than needed.

Thinking simple

Khoi said that in mind of business managers, preventing malware means installing anti-virus software products in computers. Meanwhile, the way of thinking has become out of date, as hackers now carry out attacks under different modes, while the number of malware has increased rapidly.

A survey by Trend Micro shows that in the last six months of 2011, the number of malicious codes on Android operation system alone increased by 1400 percent. In early 2011, a new malicious code appeared in every second. Meanwhile, at the end of the year, four malicious codes appeared in every second. It is expected that by 2015, 27,000 new malware would appear after every hour.

Meanwhile, the survey conducted by BKAV, a network security firm, said that in 2011, 64 million computers in Vietnam got infected with viruses, and about 40,000 new virus types appeared. The survey also said that 2000 websites of agencies and businesses were hacked.

The biggest problem now is that many businesses still have been relying on the intelligence of anti-virus software, and they only try to scan viruses after malware penetrate computers. Meanwhile, anti-virus software products cannot be updated regularly.

Khoi of Trend Micro said that while the businesses’ information technology structure has not changed much in recent years, users’ behaviors have changed a lot. For example, users can access to Internet with different mobile devices, including smart phones, tablets, not only computers. The mobile devices could be the bridges that link the threats and businesses’ networks.

A survey of Trend Lab showed that more than 90 percent of information security attacks come from Internet, through emails, or the links to the websites with malware. 

The big threats

In early February 2012, BKAV, an Internet security firm, suffered from a series of DDos (Distributed Denial of Service) which then paralyzed the websites and made it impossible to access. In 2011, VietNamNet struggled hard with the DDos attacks within one year.

The number of DDos attacks is believed to increase in Vietnam which would be a big threat because it would be difficult to recover the systems after the attacks. 

The best solution to fight against DDos attacks is to set up firewall to prevent malicious queries and ensure smooth bandwidth. However, Nguyen Minh Duc, network security director of BKAV, said that the measure does not allow to prevent them thoroughly.

Trend Micro Vietnam believes that there are some ways to minimize the attacks, influences and damages. One of the measures is that Internet service providers need to be equipped with the solutions allowing to recognize and block malicious queries. The hired Internet service providers would act as the “bodyguards” who help prevent the DDoS attacks to the servers.

Besides DDoS attacks, there are some other types of attacks, which seem to be more dangerous, but can be prevented, according to experts. There is no single solution to prevent these types of attacks which aim to steal information. Businesses need to apply a series of measures to deal with the risk: applying security policies, hiring consultants on security, using necessary security solutions, carrying out periodic surveys to find out security holes.

Source: TBKTSG

Hoa Lac key to VN's IT future, says PM

Hoa Lac key to VN's IT future, says PM

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday said the management board of Hoa Lac High-Tech Park should focus on adjusting the park's timetable to speed up the investment and construction process. 

He made the statement during a meeting with the management board in Ha Noi's Thach That District.

Dung affirmed the establishment of the park was a sound Party and Government policy, which would help develop the country's science and technology industry, especially with high-tech products.

However, based on the current situation, it was difficult to accomplish the project's investment and construction goals by 2015 as planned, he said.

Regarding challenges in land clearance and compensation, Dung asked the management board to work with investors to increase finance into settling the issue by the end of this year.

He asked Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) to take responsibility for direct investment into setting up the park's electricity system.

With regard to other infrastructure systems the park will build, such as telecommunications and park transport, he said the management board needed to clearly differentiate state-funded and ODA projects.

Dung urged Ministry of Science and Technology leaders to keep researching, reviewing and publishing specific criteria and conditions for investment projects for the park, especially those related to education and training and laboratory work.

He asked the management board to review and revoke licenses for projects such as golf courts and villas which do not meet the park's functions and suggested the ministry should form favourable policies to attract scientists and experts to the park's research and training centres.

Established in 1998, Hoa Lac High-Tech Park cleared 845ha out of 1,586ha of land and is connected with Thang Long Highway.

So far, 61 projects with VND31 trillion (US$1.48 billion) have been licensed for investment within the park. Among them, 17 projects coming into operation have created jobs for more than 4,000 workers and reached VND1.3 trillion ($62 million) of turnover.

However, according to the management board, the park fails to attract big investors in high-tech industries due to its poor infrastructure systems and lack of favourable conditions.

HCM City takes hard look at research, technology

The country's research efforts will get a major boost if businesses invest unhesitatingly in technology, a top HCM City official said.

Speaking at a meeting last week with top scientists and representatives of universities, research institutes, and science-technology firms, deputy chairman of the city People's Committee, Nguyen Manh Ha, said: "Only intelligence is an endless resource. Properly mobilising and exploiting intelligence will enable science and technology to become a major driver of economic growth."

Many scientists expressed the worry that companies are not concerned about restructuring or employing innovations or technologies.

"It might be due to limited funds, ineffective support policies, or the mistaken belief that small businesses do not need technology," Dr Dao Van Luong, principal of the Sai Gon Technology University, said.

In fact, if they do invest in technology, they can improve their capacity and profits, he said.

Statistics from the city Department of Science and Technology reveal that only 24 firms signed up for technology-related support last year.

"In the upcoming time scientists must meet actual industry demand while businesses should work closer with scientists for what they need," Ha said.

Technology has not become a major factor in most industries in the city due to outdated policies.

"Most current research is separated from practical needs and do not meet industries' requirements," Professor Duong Thi Binh Minh, former vice principal of the HCM City Economics University, said.

"Besides, the need to explain the use of funds and cumbersome administrative procedures have limited effectiveness."

Ngo Duc Hoang of the Viet Nam National University – HCM City said: "Businesses need technologies that can be immediately used in production, but currently research does not operate this way."

Ha promised new policies this year that would allow scientists not to worry about costs.

"[It] will let scientists report the total cost of their research instead of a detailed break-up as required now."

VNS

VN’s first nuclear power plant can resist 9 Richter-scale earthquakes

VN’s first nuclear power plant can resist 9 Richter-scale earthquakes

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant is designed to sustain earthquakes of up to 9 Richter scale and it is far enough from the sea to avoid tsunamis, said Russian contractor Rosatom’s representative.

Russia commits safety for Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant 

Sergey A. Boyarkin, Deputy General Director of Rosatom.

Sergey A. Boyarkin, Deputy General Director of Rosatom atomic energy group, the consulting firm and the builder of Ninh Thuan project, talks about the safety and economic feature of this project in a press conference in Hanoi last week.

After the Fukushima incident in Japan, nuclear power has become the worry of many people. What do you comment on Vietnam’s determination to build nuclear power plants?

The Fukushima plant used the second-generation reactors and the active safety principle. Accordingly, the reactor is cooled off in urgent cases by the power supplied by diesel generators. When the power was off, the urgent cooling system did work. The technology of Fukushima was designed in the 1960s, 50 years ago, which is outdated.

The Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant will be built under new design of the third generation, with the system to isolate melting substances. In any cases, melting substances will be unable to escape from the reactor.

The plant will be safe if it uses Russian technology.

What foundation for us to believe in it?

With the third generation technology of Russia, radioactive substance is prevented from running out of the nuclear plant in any incident. Only Russia has this technology. If this technology was used at Fukushima, the incident would have not happened.

Russian safety standards are highest in the world. Recently, some firms criticized Russia for using so many safety technologies, but our point of view is it is the most important to ensure safety by expensive equipment.

Ninh Thuan is located near a belt of volcanoes and has faults. What do you think about the appropriateness of Ninh Thuan for building nuclear power plants there?

The survey in Ninh Thuan is underway. I think there is no problem with the site of construction.

There is no place in the world that is completely stable and is not prone to earthquake. However, Russian reactors are designed to resist any type of earthquake.

A nuclear power plant, built in the former USSR, overcame earthquakes of the 10 Richter scale and it is still operating. We know how to build such plants.

How about the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant?

According to initial surveys, earthquakes of up to 7.5 Richter scale can occur in Ninh Thuan. In design, the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant can resist earthquakes of up to 9 Richter scale. We are searching a place where tsunamis cannot hit the reactor.

How impact will Vietnamese climate make on reactors designed by Russia?

Russia is experienced in building nuclear power in different climates, including tropical climates. We put into operation two reactors in China, where has similar climate with Ninh Thuan. Two other reactors in India, also in tropical climate, are about to work.

We always count in climate factor in designing any nuclear power plant and we always use rustproof materials. In China, we used titanium. I confirm that no country in the world that is experienced like Russia.

How much is the cost for the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant?

In Russia, the cost for 1kW is $2,700. In Vietnam, it will be 10 percent higher. We are working on the cost and it will surely not exceed $3,000/kW. This is competitive price.

If the cost is $3,000/1kW, the total value for the two reactors does not exceed $6 billion. Vietnam and Russia signed a $10 billion agreement on nuclear power but it does not mean that we will spend the entire $10 billion. The remaining funding is for building infrastructure and related works, including the Nuclear Technology Center in Vietnam.

Are you sure that the project will be kicked off in 2014 as schedule?

The project is implemented in scheduled pace and it will be kicked of as scheduled. However, each stage must be checked and taken over. This task takes time and it is conducted by independent agencies.

According to plan, the construction will complete in 2018. Before putting fuel into the reactor, we need one year for checking and taking over. In countries where have experienced supervisory agencies, this procedures can only take 1-2 months.

Vietnamese experts are studying in Russia to operate the nuclear power plant in the future. We will try to train sufficient personnel for Vietnam by 2018.

PV

3D mobile phones getting cheaper in Vietnam

3D mobile phones getting cheaper in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Appeared on the Vietnamese market in late 2011, but 3D mobile phones had not attracted users until recently, when the products have become cheaper.

After TV, laptops and 3D game players, smart phone is the next electronic product which joins the 3D technology trend. With the 4 inch screens, users can watch films, pictures and use 3G game apps with the naked eyes, without glasses. Together with dual core mobile phones, 3D smart phones were expected to kick off a new tendency. 

However, 3D mobile products were far from becoming a tendency in 2011. An officer of Vien Thong A, a big high tech product distributor, said that 3D mobile phones raised curiosity among users, but the sales of the products were lower than that of other smart phone products.

There were not many choices for users, while the products were really choosy. The smart phone models of LG and HTC were priced at 14-16 million dong. They have powerful configuration and they are high end products.

Vu Hai, the owner of a shop in HCM City, said that the high prices of 3D smart phones are also the barriers that prevent the technology from becoming more popular.

However, things are getting different when manufacturers have launched new models with improvements in technology, and the products have got cheaper.

LG and HTC have reduced the prices of 3D smart phones (without glasses), while lower grade models of Mobiistar have attracted a certain number of users who like the auxiliary features.

Since late 2011, LG has reduced the prices of its 3D models. Optimus 3D is selling at 12 million dong instead of 14 million dong. HTC has recently slashed the price of EVO 3D from 15.9 million dong to 13.9 million dong.

“Though 3D phones are still expensive and they are considered high grade products, but the gap in the prices of 3D phones and others has been narrowed,” noted Nguyen An, the owner of a mobile phone shop on Tran Quang Khai street in district 1 of HCM City.

However, 3D phones have been selling more slowly than other devices with the same configuration but with no 3D feature, such as Galaxy S II, Sensation or Xperia Arc.

Bui Van Hoa, Deputy General Director of Vien Thong A, said that the technology has not “ripe” yet, while products only fit high income earners.

In another market segment, Viet Mobiistar has launched into the market a low cost touch-screen product line. The products are priced 1-1.4 million dong. The major difference between Mobiistar’s products and other models which are five times more expensive than Mobiistar’s is the technology. The low cost products use glasses (anaglyph), while the products show fewer colors.

It is clear that the low cost products aim to the clients with scanty money. Therefore, though using a simple technology, the 3D models still could be sold well last Tet holiday. Meanwhile, the models are hopes to be sold better if the products do not need glasses.

According to Nguyen An, a high-tech product player, the 3D technology may become more popular, which allows to have better product prices in 2012.

“With the first models, manufacturers have to make heavier investments, which lead to the high prices of products. Later, when products have become more popular, when the initial investment capital has been taken back, users will be able to use products with more reasonable prices,” An said.

An hopes that after the MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2012, a lot of new 3D models would be introduced.

Source: VnExpress

Phishing became an obsession of Vietnamese Internet users

Phishing became an obsession of Vietnamese Internet users

VietNamNet Bridge – Several years ago, experts warned Vietnamese Internet users about the appearance of phishing in Vietnam. The number of people who are the victims of phishing has been increasing rapidly over the last few years.

Though having been warned about phishing, a lot of people still fall into the traps of swindlers. Experts say that there are different phishing tricks, from naïve to complicated, and both can “bring effects”. Some victims lost several million dong, others could not access to mail or chat accounts, and all of them get upset.

Different phishing tricks

In mid 2011, many people received an email from a former Minister of Education and Training. The email was written in English, saying that the former Minister of Education and Training was traveling in the UK, when his wallet, where he kept documents and money, was stolen, because of which he could not return home. The email asked friends and relatives to help by remitting money to his accounts at Western Union or Money Gram.

The people, who got the strange email, immediately contacted the former Minister of Education and Training and realized that he was in Vietnam, not in the UK.

Minh, a woman in Go Vap district in HCM City, unexpectedly received a message from an unfamiliar mobile phone subscriber, who asked Minh to buy a Viettel’s scratch card worth 100,000 dong for him. Minh sent a message to the subscriber, asking for her personal information. The subscriber then “kept quiet” and disappeared.

Minh Hoang in district 3 in HCM City related that he once received a message which asked Hoang to remit one million dong to an account, so that the account owner got money for disease treatment. Hoang thought that a friend of his asked for help and hurriedly tried to contact the message sender at the given phone number. However, the subscriber did not answer. 

On January 29, 2012, Truong in Tan Phu district of HCM City, who was chatting with friends through Yahoo Messenger, received an invitation to share pictures with a familiar nick name. Truong then clicked the link given by the nick name after entering user name and password. As Truong could not see the images on the link, she signed out and continued chatting.

After that, the one, who chatted with Truong, invited Truong to buy mobile phone scratch cards, promising big prizes. As doubts were raised about the “friend”, Truong shifted to chat on Facebook and realized that the actual friend did not chat on Yahoo. And Truong realized that she was tricked.

Just three seconds later, Truong’s nick name was appropriated, which was later used to cheat two other people out of 2.1 million dong.

Users told to protect themselves

Experts say that currently, with sniffer technology (bugging phone calls) and key lock skill (a kind of computer virus), hackers can easily steal the accounts of people, which include user names and passwords, from Yahoo or Gmail email addresses. Once having passwords, hackers assume another person’s name to try to cheat people: they steal personal information, credit card codes…

As for Yahoo emails, once the accounts are stolen, the account owners should contact Yahoo Vietnam so as to be supported to regain the old accounts and change passwords. As for Gmail, if users do not have alternative email accounts, users should stop signing in old accounts for 24 hours. After 24 hours, users should access to the password support page, enter the user names and set passwords again by answering security questions.

According to Vo Do Thang, Director of Athena, a network security center, in order to prevent troubles, one should avoid entering user names and passwords on unfamiliar computers, because the computers might be installed with Key lock which allows to steal passwords. Users should also think of complicated passwords which contain at least 8 characters, and regular change passwords.

Source: SGTT