National cyber security alliance

LONDON: Attempts by Russian-backed hackers to steal COVID-19 vaccine research from Britain are "completely unacceptable" but have not done any damage, security minister James Brokenshire said on Friday (Jul 17). Britain's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said on Thursday that hackers backed by the Russian state had tried to steal COVID-19 vaccine and treatment research from academic and pharmaceutical institutions around the world. Russia has rejected London's allegations. "It's completely unacceptable for the Russian intelligence agencies to seek to get into the systems of those who are seeking to respond to this crisis ... to develop a vaccine," Brokenshire told Sky News. "There's no evidence or information of any damage or, or any sort of harm." A coordinated statement from Britain, the United States and Canada attributed the attacks to group APT29 , also known as 'Cozy Bear', which they said was almost certainly operating as part of Russian intelligence services. … [Read more...] about Russian attempts to steal COVID-19 vaccine data unacceptable but have not done damage: UK security minister

NEW DELHI: A government audit of India's flagship payments processor last year found more than 40 security vulnerabilities including several it called "critical" and "high" risk, according to an internal government document seen by Reuters. The audit, which took place over four months to February 2019, highlighted a lack of encryption of personal data at the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) which forms the backbone of the country's digital payments system and operates the RuPay card network championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The March 2019 government document cited the storing of 16-digit card numbers and other personal information such as customer names, account numbers and national identity numbers in "plain text" in some databases, leaving the data unprotected if the system was breached. The audit has not previously been reported. The NPCI said in a statement to Reuters it is regularly audited in the interests of security and senior management reviews … [Read more...] about India found cybersecurity lapses at National Payments Corp in 2019: Govt document

BRUSSELS: The EU warned China it would face "very negative consequences" if it presses ahead with a new security law for Hong Kong, stepping up pressure on Beijing over the controversial legislation. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel told China's top leaders of their "grave concern" over the new law, which critics say will curb the financial hub's autonomy and freedoms. The stern message, delivered during a video summit on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, adds to a chorus of international concern over Hong Kong, though Beijing has shown no sign of backing down on a law it says is necessary to maintain order. "We expressed our grave concerns about the proposed national security law for Hong Kong," Michel told reporters after the talks. "We called on China to follow the promises made to the people of Hong Kong and the international community regarding Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy … [Read more...] about EU warns China over Hong Kong security law

SINGAPORE: Sexual offences brought about by advances in technology such as voyeurism and “cyber flashing” will be criminalised from January next year, when amendments to the Penal Code take effect. The changes were introduced under the Criminal Law Reform Bill, which was passed in Parliament in May. READ: Voyeurism, ‘cyber flashing’ emerging new crimes targeted under Criminal Law Reform Bill READ: Sweeping law reforms to outlaw marital rape, penalise voyeurism passed As part of the Bill, a new category of sexual offences was introduced to better tackle cases including the making, distribution, possession of and access to voyeuristic recordings and intimate images, as well as the distribution of such images without consent. A new offence of sexual exposure was also introduced to criminalise acts such as “cyber flashing", or the sending of unsolicited images of genitals over an electronic medium to another person. Similarly, the act of doxxing will also be … [Read more...] about Voyeurism, ‘cyber flashing’ to be criminalised from January as legal reforms kick in

TAIPEI: Taiwan said on Wednesday (Aug 19) hacking groups linked to the Chinese government had attacked at least 10 government agencies and about 6,000 email accounts of government officials in an "infiltration" to steal important data. Democratic Taiwan has been urging its people to be alert for what officials call "omnipresent infiltration" from China, involving from Beijing-backed media campaigns to cyberattacks, against the island that China considers its territory. READ: Taiwan to step up efforts to prevent Chinese spies settling READ: Taiwan to raise defence spending as China details combat drills "Chinese hacking groups have been infiltrating government agencies and their information service providers for a long time," said the deputy director of the Taiwan Investigation Bureau's Cyber Security Investigation Office, Liu Chia-zung. "They were aiming to acquire important government documents and data," Liu told reporters. "Some government data might have been … [Read more...] about Taiwan says China behind cyber attacks on government agencies, emails