CNA Explains: Could a DDoS attack bring down Singaporeâs public healthcare system?
SINGAPORE: On November 1, a distributed denial of service( DDoS ) removed the websites of Singapore’s public healthcare organizations, resulting in an extended outage. & nbsp,
Services that needed internet connectivity, such as websites, emails, and staff productivity tools, were unavailable during the disruption, despite the fact that essential healthcare services were untouched. & nbsp,
There was no evidence to suggest that medical data and internal networks had been compromised, according to a statement from Singaporean health tech firm Synapxe, which supports the operations of 46 people medical institutions.
The DDoS attacks are also happening, and there may still be sporadic outages of online service, it added. & nbsp,
According to experts, it’s crucial to maintain essential services unhindered even in the face of cybercrime because public health care systems are so crucial.
Additionally, they emphasized how crucial it is to separate inside healthcare systems from online and web-based services. & nbsp,
A DDOS ATTACK: WHAT IS IT?
A distributed denial of service( DDoS ) attack, one of the most frequent cyberattacks, is a malicious attempt to obstruct an online service or site by inundating it with unusually high volumes of data traffic. & nbsp,
According to Atreyi Kankanhalli of the National University of Singapore,” Cybercriminals overburden a network with so much traffic that it cannot function( communicate ) as it usually would.” & nbsp,
This would impede customers, or requests, from reputable people, according to the Provost’s Chair Professor in the Department of Information Systems and Analytics at the School of Computing at NUS. Users would then be unable to load content on & nbsp. In addition, & nbsp,
Prof. Kankanhalli & nbsp used the example of a group of people swarming the shop’s entrance door, making it difficult for legitimate customers to enter. & nbsp,
According to the & nbsp, Singapore University of Social Sciences’ ( SUSS ) & nfspp, Ng Boon Yuen, a DDoS attack coordinates multiple attack streams so that numerous devices are simultaneously attacking the target system.
These products are frequently those that have been compromised by malware and are” remotely controlled” by the intruder, according to the senior teacher of the business program at SUSS ‘ School of Business. & nbsp,
According to cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks, a DDoS attack is normally planned in three steps. & nbsp,
The first step is typically & nbsp, reconnaissance to find a specific target, according to its Field Chief Security Officer of Japan and Asia Pacific Ian Lim. & nbsp,
The second step is” weaponization ,” in which the attacker creates or rents a bot network to carry out the attack. Launching the strike and possibly adapting to the defenses to withstand it is the next step, according to Mr. Lim.
The purpose or goal of the harm may determine the next steps, he continued. & nbsp,
Sluggish application performance, protracted inability to access websites or system files, high processor and memory usage, frequent disconnections from wireless or wired internet connections, and an increase in spam emails are all potential indicators of a DDoS attack, according to the Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore( CSA ).
HOW CAN Digital Thieves Storm Blogs WITH TRAFFIC, Yet WITH FIREWALLS IN PLACE?
According to Synapxe, it has access to services that prevent unusual internet traffic spikes before they reach the people healthcare system. & nbsp,
Synapxe added in its statement that routers are in place to ensure that only legitimate traffic enters the network even after the limiting service has cleared the traffic. & nbsp,
But, on November 1st, a strange increase in network traffic that was picked up around 9.15 am was able to get around the obstructing service and destroy the firewalls. & nbsp,
DDoS preventing services have power limits, Prof. Kankanhalli noted. & nbsp,
” Attacks bigger than 2 terabits per second( Tbps ) have happened, and attack sizes are getting bigger.” Massive attacks you overwhelm firewalls and preventing services.
According to Mr. Lim, the danger environment for DDoS has changed, allowing adversaries to launch attacks with more volume and speed.
Any internet-facing system, such as a router or modem, has bandwidth limitations that can be overextended in network-based DDoS. The application is overcome and can no longer listen to reasonable calls in an application-based assault, according to Mr. Lim. & nbsp,
Why had cybercriminals targeted public health care system websites? & nbsp,
According to the CSA, one of the 11 industries with important details infrastructure is healthcare. & nbsp,
According to Prof. Kankanhalli, it is a crucial company that makes it an appealing destination for online thieves looking to cause trouble. & nbsp,
” The adversaries may have both financial and activist motivations for causing break.” For instance, take information to buy or demand ransom from the company.
According to Mr. Lim, due to the status of the organization and the media attention it may garner, big institutions are frequently the goal of such attacks. According to & nbsp,” Hacktivism” or” hacking for a cause” is frequently the reason behind DDoS attacks that are not financially advantageous. & nbsp,
DDoS could also be used as a distraction strategy to conceal another invasion occurring elsewhere in the organization, Mr. Lim continued.
HOW ARE Important OPERATIONS AND SERVICES No AFFECTED BY PUBLIC HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS?
Professionals concurred that if critical operating techniques in a hospital are available via the internet, they will be vulnerable to DDoS attacks. & nbsp,
According to Nanyang Business School’s( NBS ) Goh Kim Huat, the majority of hospitals have separate systems for managing their internal healthcare systems and hosting online web pages.
According to Prof. Goh, a member of NBS ‘ Division of Information Technology and Operations Management, internal healthcare systems have files like electronic medical records that are” mission critical, confidential, time-sensitive, and need to be continuously available for patient safety.”
For separation is currently being practiced in our health care system. Mission-critical healthcare systems are typically compartmentalized and equipped with redundancy( backup ).
According to Prof. Kankanhalli,” Service connecting to the internet have many benefits, but likewise immediately increase risks.” However, it is not feasible to forbid all of these services; rather, you must implement since many safeguards as you can.
HOW Essential ARE People HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS ‘ Sites?
The question is whether it is essential to maintain the availability of medical institution websites, Dr. Ng said, even if there was no data breach and operations were essentially unaffected. She stated that the accessibility of websites that offer e-services to the general public may be crucial. & nbsp,
Even though websites for health care organizations are primarily there to inform the public, a disturbance can lead to various issues, according to Dr. Ng. & nbsp,
For instance, a user would use the hospital’s telephone number for public inquiries if they were unable to locate the contact information for the professional clinic or ward on the website. According to Dr. Ng, a high amount of enquiries could destroy the call center.
A spokesperson for NUHS( National University Health System ) added that their call center and emails were even partially absent in light of the recent disturbance.
According to the top teacher, when various( or all ) channels of information and communication are impacted, those who are in need of assistance does become concerned or even anxious. & nbsp,
HOW SHOULD Organizations SECURE THEMSELVES FROM ATTACKS BY DDOS?
According to online safety company Cloudfare, businesses can use specially created network equipment or a cloud-based protection service to alleviate the threat. & nbsp,
DDoS mitigation, which involves using a cloud-based provider across many stages, is the process of properly shielding cybernet or server from DDOS attacks.
A website must first be able to distinguish between an attack and a large volume of regular traffic in order to react by deftly removing harmful bot traffic while absorbing the remaining traffic.
A good network may route traffic effectively and look for patterns like specific attacks coming from specific nations or improper use of specific protocols. & nbsp,
According to Mr. Lim, the organization would be able to bring in experts shortly to stop or divert these attacks if the DDoS attack was detected early. & nbsp,
” A thorough examination of the attack will also enable the preparation and application of a suitable course of reduction.” Remember that the intruder might be anticipating your defenses and changing the direction of their harm.
” To totally address the continuing attack, constant attention is required because this is a dynamic situation. To increase response time, it is essential to have a team( internal or partners ) prepared to respond to DDoS incidents and exercise drills.
To prevent unauthorized access and takeover of your network devices and routers, the CSA advises using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication,( 2FA ) as an additional layer of security.
Additionally, it suggests & nbsp putting security measures in place at the network’s perimeter, such as firewalls between internal and external connectivity points.
WHAT TYPE OF Problems ARE THESE? & nbsp,
One of the most typical types of attacks is DDoS episodes.
According to the CSA and Infocomm Media Development Authority( IMDA ), DDoS attacks on telco infrastructure in 2016 crippled StarHub’s broadband network twice in three days. & nbsp,
Therefore, infected subscribers’ Internet-connected products in their homes were taken over and used in the cyberattacks. The devices’ owners, thieves, were able to deliver visitors to their intended destination. & nbsp,
Rare tiger spotted in Yala forest
4 November 2023 at 06:35 PUBLISHED
According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation’s( DNP ) Facebook page, a Philippine lion was recently spotted in Yala, in the area known as Bang Lang.
The DNP reported that there are several sub-species of tigers in its article, with the Philippine tiger being found in Malaysia and Thailand’s southern border regions.
Simply Bang Lang National Park and the Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand are home to Philippine lions. Eastern cats are those that can be found in the nation’s central and western regions.
The” Smart Patrol” system, which is intended to assist in tracking and monitoring animals and preventing risks to the protected forests, is to blame for the sight of the Philippine lion in Bang Lang National Park.
The Philippine lion, known as” Bang Lang 01,” was captured on bait cameras, allowing DNP officials to review the forest and learn more about the creature.
Extended nightlife hours to start Dec 15
Published on November 4, 2023, at 6:32.
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, and Phuket’s daytime leisure facilities will now open until 4 a.m. on December 15 thanks to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Mr. Srettha and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said they had discussed extending entertainment entry time for a trial phase with the Tourism and Sports Ministry, Royal Thai Police, and the four provincial governors after an integrated commerce strategy meeting on Friday.
To increase hospitality, the estimate will be put into effect for the first time in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, and Phuket.
According to Mr. Srettha, pertinent companies will take into account how many months are appropriate for the test. The extension will only be in place for the time being, and conversations about zoning changes may take place in the future.
” We want to promote domestic tourism and the market.” According to Mr. Srettha, the program will also assist in increasing enterprise revenue in the tourism industry, which includes restaurants and entertainment venues.
He emphasized that some immigrants don’t eat like Thais would. Some people eat between 9 and 10 p.m. Buyers may have to eat earlier if opening hours are only evening or 2am, which reduces the amount of food they order.
After speaking with security agencies, Mr. Srettha added that it is feasible to extend opening hours to 4am and that the Interior Ministry does investigate planning and licenses.
Authorities will work to increase the use of illegal drugs and ensure the safety of the populace.
According to Mr. Anutin, the state also intends to increase the business hours of restaurants that serve as venues for amusement from midnight to two in the morning.
Alcoholic beverages may only be sold up until midnight under the current laws, and music is prohibited after that time.
The new governmental regulations need case approval, so the Interior Ministry and police have discussed amending them. The government will then put forth a laws allowing provincial governors to specify the planning and business hours of the nightclubs.
Mr. Anutin responded that he had spoken with the provincial administration department’s director general and regional police chief to create a unique unit to handle the situation afterwards when asked if operational officials would have the authority to inspect entertainment venues after hours have been extended.
Hop on one of Vietnamâs many cable cars to visit giant Buddha statues, faux European villages and selfie spots
Before relocating to Portugal to pursue a doctorate in tourism, Ly Tran, 34, who taught hospitality at an institution in Ho Chi Minh City, traveled to Hon Thom & nbsp with her Portuguese partner. This island is small and privately owned by Sun Group, and the Phu Quoc cable car leads there. Two more amusement gardens, three resorts, a modern building, and lots of villas are all planned by the business. The couple was relaxing in a coffee shop with palm trees while their journey companions played on enormous, vibrant waterslides.
According to Tran, Vietnamese appreciate the organization and cleanliness of tourist destinations like Sun World. She added that wire cars also make sense because Asian tourists take a different approach to sightseeing than Westerners do.
She remarked,” When you see Europeans going sightseeing, they’re going to be wearing sports shoes and clothing.” However, Asian people are typically seen wearing longer dresses, sandals, or high heels. They want to look stunning for the image capture.
The cable vehicles offered an unexpected viewpoint for Frank Ngo, a physical therapist from Anaheim, California, who was 41 years old and whose parents had fled Vietnam after the battle in 1978. On their first journey to Vietnam since they were teenagers, he and his wife Karen Do, 34, were astounded by the country’s advancements and the ease of the car ride up to Phu Quoc.
It’s absurd to look out at the sea in that manner. My kids were boat enthusiasts. They were out there in the open water for about five days, Ngo said as we entered the Colosseum-like place. ” I was trying to process that by picturing myself as them out there on the ship.”
The New York Times Company, by Patrick Scott
The New York Times was where the content first appeared.
Singapore’s sprint queen Shanti Pereira away from the track: âLife can be a bit of a roller coaster ride, I clear my head to calm myselfâ
Pereira proclaimed her proudly” basic” attitude toward her interests.
Her favorite schedules involve going to the movies, and she adores watching the same episodes of her favorite television program, Modern Family, on sluggish Sundays. & nbsp,
She said,” These little things may become simple, but they are what make me happy.”
Pereira is a voracious visitor as well. Pereira chuckled as she recalled shopping in each city she had been to because she” loves looking out for new clothing and I love care.” & nbsp,
There is always some strange shopping district I can find in any area I find myself in, regardless of whether I’m traveling for work or play.
It explains why her latest trip to Seoul, South Korea, with her partner Tan Zong Yang, a professional athlete and prosecutor, was but” healing.” & nbsp,
Commentary: Gibranâs VP run may be the biggest gamble for Prabowo â and outgoing Indonesian President Jokowi
Mr. Jokowi’s camp seems to be aware of this: PSI recently launched a forceful” Jokowo – philosophy” campaign that prominently featured the names and faces of Mrs. Widod, Pangarep, and Raka on occasion. This highlights their efforts to capitalize on the priest’s recognition and win over voters.
A CAREFUL VICE PRESIDENT?
Even if the couple succeeds in overcoming these obstacles during the campaign, they may still encounter additional governance difficulties. Does the powerful PDI-P support Mr. Subianto’s alliance in his goals?
If this was merely a marriage of convenience, it’s also possible that Mr. Subianto was remove Mr Raka from his position as vice president, which has no real legal authority until appointed by the president.
His latest stance toward Mr. Jokowi could be viewed as one: After his defeat in 2019 and his appointment as defense minister in an effort to promote national unity following a contentious election that saw demonstrations against the results turn deadly, M. Subianto was appointed.
If the PSI, the group headed by Mr. Jokowi’s youngest brother, is unable to win seats in the House of Representatives, he might not have much of an impact. PSI currently lacks political representation because it received just 1.89 percent of the total nationwide vote in 2019, which is less than the 4 % required to allocate seats in the legislature.
The gap between Mr. Jokowi and PDI-P, the political party that first propelled him, his son, and son-in-law to their present positions, may also become unbridgeable.
Both Mr. Subianto and M. Jokowi may be seriously at risk if they decide to run for girlfriend and vice president alongside Raka.
At the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Made Supriatma is a visiting companion for the Indonesia Studies Program.
IN FOCUS: How Israel-Hamas falsehoods on TikTok âcloud the public eyeâ in Southeast Asia
WHAT TIKTOK SAYS Government
The European Commission has questioned TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp owner Meta about how they combat false information about the conflict. Additionally, it is looking into X for supposedly spreading false information.
The Ministry of Communications and Information in Singapore has” emphasized to social media services the need to step up content moderation efforts during this period, taking into consideration local sensitivities ,” in response to CNA’s inquiries. It didn’t go into detail.
The department acknowledged that Singaporean social media users may be at” heightened risk of being exposed to harmful online information and misinformation ,” and it urged the government to exercise caution, fact-check, and refrain from disseminating information if they are unsure of its veracity. & nbsp,
The limited regulators in Malaysia and Indonesia were also contacted by CNA for their feedback.
Since the start of the war, TikTok has removed more than 925, 000 videos from the turmoil location for breaking its policies on violence, hate speech, misconceptions, and extremism, including content that promotes Hamas, according to its most recent update on its website, which was published on Friday.
Over 24 million fake accounts, more than 500,000 bot comments on content using keywords related to the war, and 50 000 video with” dangerous misinformation” have all been removed from TikTok globally during the same time period.
The platform, which is owned by the Chinese tech company Bytedance, recently announced that it had added more Arabic and Hebrew-speaking moderators to evaluate content pertaining to the conflict. Additionally, it collaborates with outside fact-checking organizations like Agence France-Presse.
Recent media reports and scientific studies have revealed that TikTok’s algorithms does not favor information and that deceptive videos on the platform you” spread quickly thanks to their shock value ,” in addition to content moderation.
The idea that the platform would gain from shock value content is” baseless ,” a TikTok spokesperson retorted to CNA. & nbsp,
According to the spokesperson,” we remove material that contravenes our policies against damaging misinformation and have laws against stunning content, which we either remove or render unsuitable for recommendation into the For You feed.”
According to the interpreter, TikTok reviews content as it becomes more popular on the app in order to stop videos from being recommended that go against its policies.
People were allegedly paying TikTok as little as US$ 7 to spread false information about the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to another content published in October.
According to a TikTok interpreter, the platform blocks search terms in violation of its policies and does not help keyword targeting or topic-based advertising. Additionally,” Israel” and” Palestine” have been added to a list of prohibited search terms.
No NEUTRAL PLATFORMS, DO YOU THINK?
Some fake clips that the journalist came over were finally taken down during CNA’s week-long study of Israel – Hamas information on TikTok.
Some, however, persisted in their online activity, raking in opinions, remarks, and shares while demonstrating the whack-a-mole nature of content moderation.
Malaysian Mr. Harris urged social media platforms to be more open about how they moderate information and to experience greater regulatory scrutiny.
After everything that has happened, the claim that they are only negative platforms is obviously false, and those making it today are dishonest, he told CNA.
Panel to put charter-change questions to lawmakers
PUBLISHED: 05:00 on November 4, 2023.
According to section president Nikorn Chamnong, a sub-committee is tasked with soliciting public input on charter revision proposals before sending draft questions about charter amendments to senators and MPs for feedback next month.
When parliament reconvenes next month, Mr. Nikorn stated over the phone that copies of the questions may be given to specific MPs and lawmakers for evaluation.
According to reports, Mr. Nikorn’s panel asked three questions of the House and Senate committees on social development at individual meetings on Monday and Thursday.
They inquire as to whether the current charter should be amended entirely, with the exception of Chapters 1 and 2, or whether each section should receive an amendment, and whether a constitution-drafting assembly ( CDA ) needs to be established to draft the new charter.
Thailand is defined in Section 1 as a solitary, undivided country with the King serving as the head of state, and Chapter 2 includes sections on aristocratic prerogatives.
Mr. Nikorn reportedly asked Members and lawmakers how many referendums they believe are necessary for a charter modify during the discussions with the political committees.
If a new contract is written, in least two must be conducted, according to an order from the Constitutional Court.
According to its chairman, Parit Wacharasindhu, the House committee on social development has established a sub-committee to analyze CDA election systems.
Mr. Parit, a Move Forward Party( MFP ) MP, stated that the sub-panel’s job is to look into how CDA members are chosen to make sure the body is diverse.
He added that the investigation report will be given to the government-appointed committee on charter rewrite referendums and that it is anticipated to aid in determining whether all CDA members may be elected immediately.
According to Mr. Parit, the 10-member sub-committee consists of two opposite members, including himself, two from the partnership government, three from academia, and three more from polite society.
He claimed that he did not speak with Mr. Nikorn as a MFP representative, but rather as the chairman of the House committee on social development.
On November 14, the group is scheduled to appear before the open opinion-gathering commission.
The board led by Mr. Nikorn is one of two sub-committees under the state committee tasked with examining the structure of the referendums.
By the second month of December, it is anticipated to have completed polling the people, and the summary will be sent to the government at the beginning of the following year.
Govt sees visa policy lifting flights to 1.3m next year
4 November 2023 at 05: 00 PUBLISHED
Following the president’s recent news of a visa-free scheme for Chinese, Kazakh, American, and Japanese tourists, Thailand anticipates seeing more than 1.3 million flights the next year, according to Deputy Minister of Transport Surapong Piyachote.
He stated that the ministry aims to maximize air traffic flow management, facilitating more incoming international flights to Thailand in the future, following a meeting with executives of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd ( Aerothai ) yesterday.
From October 1 of last year to September 30 of this year, there were approximately 720, 000 airlines, according to Aerothai. However, by the end of this year, the number of airlines to Thailand will reach up to 1.2 million flights, which is close to pre-pandemic rates. Due to the free-visa policy, Aerothai predicts that trip numbers will increase by 20 to 30 % the following month, or to about 1.3 million planes.
From November 10 to May 10 of the following month, citizens of Taiwan and India are free from applying for visas. During the six-month visa-free time, it is anticipated that an additional 900, 000 Indian nationals and 400,000 Chinese citizens will visit.
According to Mr. Surapong, some travel companies have requested licenses to operate seaplanes from the Thai Civil Aviation Authority. Siam Seaplane Thailand, according to Aerothai, is one of the applicants who wants to run a seaport on Lipe Island in Satun state.
The transportation minister added that by December, he had given Aerothai the task of researching relevant laws to protect seaplane routes and operations. The company will pin high-income travelers who can purchase comfort and protection.
On home routes connecting the island and the islands,”[ the seaplanes]” will be in use. According to Mr. Surapong, I think that as tourists demand increases in the future, business will expand.
According to Noppasit Chakpitak, chairman of Aerothai, the company is ready to assist the government in luring foreign tourists by maximizing the power of international airports.
According to him, Aerothai has trained its air traffic controllers to manage high-intensity runway operations, which will enable Suvarnabhumi airport’s 68 flights per hour to increase to 94 – 104 flights.
Additionally, if Don Mueang airport’s third rail is finished by the end of the following year, it will be able to handle 57 flights per hour instead of 50. By the end of the following year, Phuket Airport will be able to handle 25 flights per hour, away from 20.
According to Mr. Noppasit, Aerothai has collaborated with China and Laos to develop air routes that support more local flights.
Rail plan sped up to meet deadline
Govt eye 2027 complete for a dual-track program
PUBLISHED: 4 November 2023 at 5:00
When the double-track train system project, which will provide the region’s fresh Singapore-Kunming route, is finished by 2027, the government hopes to transform Thailand into a local cargo and passenger rail transportation hub.
According to Department of Rail Transport director-general Pichet Kunathammarak, the new system will connect the local road that connects Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and China.
Thailand needs to speed up the second phase of its double-track railroad and the new Thai-Lao friendship bridge in order to open this new local road link by 2027, he said.
According to Mr. Pichet, the initial stage of the new train system will be completed next year, when the entire length of its double-track railway will have been increased to 627 km.
According to Mr. Pichet, the next phase’s plans call for the construction of 168 kilometers from Chumphon to Surat Thani, 57 billion baht for a 321 km section, and around 6.6 b h o t u s v e d i n g p c r y m f w l k q/ j – x.’ 68 km to Hat Yai
In order to make the planned connection of the double-track rail services through Thailand easier, the construction of these three — of seven — sections in the second phase, which span a total length of 1, 479 km, will need to be accelerated.
He stated that construction on the Hat Yai-Padang Besar section will start first, and later this month, the State Railway of Thailand( SRT ) will request cabinet approval for this sub-project.
According to Mr. Pichet, the Department of Highways has finished researching the possibility of constructing a second Thai-Lao connection bridge in Nong Khai and is currently preparing to layout the new bridge to accommodate the double-track rail.
The study concluded that since the northeast province’s first Thai-Lao bridge can also satisfy the demand for car transportation across the Mekong River, the new bridge may be constructed to serve transnational double-track rail services.
According to him, the new bridge’s construction is anticipated to take about three years and should start by first 2025 so that it can be inaugurated by the beginning of 2028.
According to him, it will be made to fit the typical trail measure of 1.435 meters.