WOCEE and WOSAS 2019 welcome the future of technology, security

MANILA, Philippines – Recognizing how the tech and security industries require an avenue to introduce innovations, Worldbex Services International – the country’s leading events and expositions organizer – mounted the third installments of World of Consumer Electronics Expo (WOCEE) and World of Safety and Security Expo (WOSAS).

Mounted across a 15,000-sqm exhibit area, this year’s WOCEE and WOSAS showcased about 500 booths.

Over 300 topnotch exhibitors, hailing from all over the country as well as from abroad such as China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia and Dubai, brought in a wide range of cutting-edge products in the field of consumer technology and safety and security.

The back-to-back trade shows officially launched with a grand opening ceremony at the World Trade Center Metro Manila last September 26. Present were PNP Police Col. Ramchrisen Haveria Jr., PNP Police Brigadier Gen. Nolasco Bathan, National Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna, WSI’s Joseph Ang and Levi Ang, architect Francisco Flameño Jr., Jill Aithnie Ang, Rene Ramos and Tessie Roque.

Witness the future of technology at WOCEE

Serving as a sustainable launch pad for the latest technologies from local and international innovators, WOCEE returned for its third year to let everyone “Experience the Future.”

Proving to be a diverse platform for innovation, the product profile of this year’s show included Wireless Devices and Wearables; Video, Photography, Digital Imaging; Audio; Educational Innovations; Sports Technology and Gaming; Smart Home; Robotics; Automotive Electronics; Fitness, Health and Wellness; as well as Computer Hardware and Software.

Aside from being able to witness an extensive display of tech innovations, attendees experienced live product demonstrations and launches; the MRSP (Mechatronics and Robotics Society of the Philippines) International and National Robotics Competition which is presented in cooperation with Hytech Power Inc.; the first ever AMEROB (Automation, Mechatronics, and Robotics) International Conference which unites and encourage the industry to adopt a more competitive and innovative mindset.

The Startup Pavilion was the newest highlight at WOCEE, which consisted of different start-up businesses from the tech industry.

There was also the International Pavilion, which showcased products and services from various international companies; the WOCEE Business Park for those looking for future business partners.

The Tech Talk seminars were also available for people seeking technological knowledge enrichment; and last but not the least, the WOCEE Circuit Gallery, which displayed the cutting-edge technology from various companies.

Ultra-modern security innovations at WOSAS

As a venue to showcase state-of-the-art products and services for private and public safety and security, WOSAS, on its third year, offered everyone the opportunity to “Experience the Assurance.”

WOSAS presented an expansive product profile which includes CCTV & Biometrics; Smart Home Technology; Fire Safety and Protection; Information Security; Emergency and Rescue; Health and Medical Technology; Training and Consultation; Transport Safety and Security; and Investigation and Protection.

In order to make the experience as immersive as possible, WOSAS featured a series of event highlights such as the live product demonstrations and launches.

The WOSAS Business Park was available to those seeking for potential business relationships in the safety and security industry; while SecuCon offered a free flowing and holistic exchange of information about safety and security.

The WOSAS Circuit Gallery opened for everyone to witness the display of innovations from various industries in the Philippines; and lastly, the International Pavilion wherein exhibitors from Indonesia presented at this year’s show

source: philstar.com

Web users reward Palestinian who hacked into Mark Zuckerberg’s profile, exposing a Facebook flaw

SAN FRANCISCO — Internet users have raised more than $11,000 to reward a Palestinian security researcher who hacked into Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg’s profile to expose a security flaw.

The fundraising campaign on the website GoFundMe raised $11,035 from 178 people in one day for Khalil Shreateh, and was continuing to take donations after he was denied a “Facebook Bounty.”

“I hope this has raised awareness of the importance of independent researchers,” said Marc Maiffret, a security expert at the firm Beyond Trust who led the effort.

“I equally hope it has reminded other researchers that while working with technology companies can sometimes be frustrating, we can never forget the greater goal; to help the Internet community at large.”

While Facebook offers rewards for those who find security holes, the company said Shreateh went too far by posting the information on Zuckerberg’s own profile page without getting consent.

Shreateh said on his blog he found a way for a Facebook user to circumvent security and modify another’s timeline, even if they were not friends on the network.

He said he took the unusual step of hacking into Zuckerberg’s profile after being ignored by the Facebook security team.

source: interaksyon.com

Some 10,000 security personnel to be deployed for Black Nazarene feast

About 10,000 security personnel will be deployed to ensure public safety during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9, an event to be attended by an estimated five million devotees.

The security contingent will consist of 3,000 members from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), about 1,000 personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and 6,000 from "force multipliers" from the local government level, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

The agency saw no need to jam cellphone signals at the moment, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo said.

Last year, authorities blocked cellphone signals as part of its security measures during the feast.

Cerbo also said the agency saw no threats from terror groups during the feast. He also reminded devotees to refrain from bringing their children to the procession and also to refrain from wearing expensive jewelry and accessories.

source: interaksyon.com

Mariah Carey increased security after ‘Idol’ feud with Nicki Minaj

NEW YORK – Pop diva Mariah Carey said she hired increased security following what she described as threats reportedly made against her by fellow ‘American Idol’ judge Nicki Minaj, according to an interview on ABC News.

Carey, 42, one of three new judges to join the “American Idol” panel for the hit talent show’s new season on January 16, told Barbara Walters in an interview airing on Monday, “it felt like an unsafe work environment.”

“Anytime anybody’s reeling threats at somebody, you know, it’s not appropriate,” Carey said.

“I’m a professional. I’m not used to that type of environment,” she said, adding that she hired extra security.

The diva was alluding to widely reported tension between her and Minaj, who were seen arguing with one another in a video from the show’s audition phase.

Walters has reported that, according to Carey, others on the “Idol” set heard Minaj go further and say, off-camera, “If I had a gun, I would shoot that bitch.”

Minaj, a Trinidadian-born singer and songwriter, previously denied making any remarks about firearms, but Carey told Walters that beefing up her security “was the appropriate thing to do.”

“Sitting there on the road with two babies, I’m not going to take any chances,” she said, referring to her 20-month old twins with husband Nick Cannon.

But in a sign of media savvy, she noted that “for all the drama, I hope it helps the show.”

Walters also asked Carey about reports she is being paid $18 million for each “Idol” season.

“I think we’re in the ballpark, (but) I can’t even talk about those things,” the singer replied.

source: interaksyon.com

Hack-proof data security solution now available in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - A breakthrough solution to the worldwide problem of data theft that its developers say is hack-proof was launched recently in the Philippines. The technology called Splitlock was developed in Australia and has been patented in all the major countries in the world.

According to Melbourne-based Splitlock, Inc. CEO Anthony Liston, who flew in for the launch, Splitlock’s goal is “to ensure that any data held in any storage device would be worthless to any person who gained unauthorized access to the database.”

To achieve this, Splitlock splits the data into at least two pieces and then locks the data in a unique and patented procedure dubbed “Splitcryption.”

“We consider it to be the most complete of data protection available and the ultimate data security product in the world,” Liston added.

In the Philippines, TransPay Network Solutions, Inc. is the exclusive partner of Splitlock, Inc.

In his opening remarks, TransPay Network Solutions Philippines president and CEO Francisco Ravena III cited the newly enacted Republic Act 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Act of 2012, and said that the technology that would help address the security issues and challenges stated in the law is now in the Philippines.

“Data protection is a must,” he stressed, “especially for valuable customer and financial data in order to keep public trust in banks and for sensitive information in government offices and in the military.” He pointed out the proliferation of cyber syndicates that prey on inadequately protected data bases.

source: philstar.com

Data of 8.7 million South Korean telecom subscribers hacked

SEOUL — KT Corp., South Korea’s No. 2 wireless service provider, apologized on Sunday after personal data of millions of mobile phone subscribers was hacked.

It is the latest in a string of large-scale personal information hacking cases in one of the world’s most wired countries. Police said two computer programmers had been arrested for hacking personal data of about 8.7 million KT subscribers. KT claims a mobile service subscription membership of 16 million.

Police were also investigating seven others suspected of having purchased and used the hacked KT data, which included names, resident registration numbers and phone numbers. “We deeply apologize for worrying you,” KT said in a statement. The company said it had blocked any further illegal access to data.

The hacking began in February. In November, more than 13 million subscribers of Nexon Korea Corp, a leading game developer, fell victim to a hacking attack.

Months before the Nexon Korea case, information of up to 35 million users of an Internet portal and blogging site operated by SK Comms, the country’s top mobile service provider, was attacked by hackers from China.

source: interaksyon.com

Hackers could haunt global air traffic control – researcher

LAS VEGAS — Air traffic control software used around the world could be exploited by hackers to unleash squadrons of ghost planes to befuddle those entrusted to keep the skies safe, a security researcher said Thursday.

Cyprus-based Andrei Costin demonstrated his findings at a Black Hat gathering of cyber defenders that ends Thursday in Las Vegas.

“This is for information only,” Costin said as he outlined how someone with modest tech skills and about $2,000 worth of electronics could vex air traffic controllers or even stalk celebrities traveling in private jets.

“Everything you do is at your own risk.”

Costin’s target was an ADS-B system in place for aircraft to communicate with one another and with air traffic control systems at airports.

The system, which has been rolled out internationally in recent years in a multi-billion dollar upgrade, was designed to better track aircraft so airport traffic can flow more efficiently.

A perilous flaw is that the system is not designed to verify who is actually sending a message, meaning that those with malicious intent can impersonate aircraft either as pranks or to cause mayhem, according to Costin.

“There is no provision to make sure a message is genuine,” he said.

“It is basically an inviting opportunity for any attacker with medium technical knowledge.”

Air traffic controllers faced with a signal from a fake airplane resort to cross-checking flight plans, putting relevant portions of air space off limits while they work.

“Imagine you inject a million planes; you don’t have that many people to cross-check,” Costin said. “You can do a human resource version of a denial of service attack on an airport.”

Denial of service attacks commonly used by hackers involve overwhelming websites with so many simultaneous online requests that they crash or slow to the point of being useless.

Aviation agencies are adept at identifying and locating “rogue transmitters” on the ground, but not at countering signals from drones or other robotic aircraft becoming more common and available, according to the researcher.

Another danger in the new-generation air traffic control system, according to Costin, is that position, velocity and other information broadcast by aircraft isn’t encrypted and can be snatched from the air.

“Basically, you can buy or build yourself a device to capture this information from airplanes,” Costin said.

He listed potential abuses including paparazzi being able to track private jets carrying celebrities or other famous people.

Costin showed how a friend was able to identify a plane broadcasting the identification numbers of Air Force One, the military jet used by the US president, and plot it on a map on an iPad.

“It can be a very profitable business model for criminals to invest a small amount of money in radios, place them around the world” and then sell jet tracking services or information about flights, the independent researcher said.

“If it was Air Force One, why does Air Force One show itself?” Costin wondered aloud. “It is a very high profile target and you don’t want everyone to know it is flying over your house.”

There are websites with databases matching aircraft registration numbers with listed owners.

source: interaksyon.com

Gov’t Sets Security Plans For Lady Gaga’s Concert

MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang assured that there is ample security in preparation for the two-day concert of American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga.

“Basically, nakahanda na ang PNP (Philippine National Police), at sanay na sila mag-handle ng mga concerts (and they already know how to handle concerts),” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing yesterday.

“They can be assured – those people who are going to watch the concert,” he said.

Lacierda noted that foreign artists who hold concerts in the country usually bring their own security.

“The events organizer provides their own security, and in addition, the PNP, they also handle the ground, peace and order situation,” he said.

Earlier, some groups have been urging President Benigno S. Aquino III to impose a ban on Lady Gaga’s two-day concert, the first of which was Monday night at the newly-constructed “The Arena” in Pasay City.

They said they wanted a ban on the concert because of alleged immorality issues.

Also yesterday, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said the fans of Lady Gaga are in danger of falling into the clutches of Satan.

“They are in danger of falling into the clutches of Satan unless they are already there,” Arguelles said in an interview.

The prelate issued the statement hours before the scheduled concert of Gaga at the Mall of Asia, whom he described as part of devil worship.

This is also the reason why, Arguelles believes, that the singer does not deserve the title “Lady.”

“She deserves not the title lady, a title given to imitable and decent women like the Mother of God,” he said.

Arguelles then appealed to Gaga’s fans and those planning to watch her concert to keep out of the devils reach by avoiding all its enticements.

“I plead with them not to go away from God. The devil will only draw them to ruin. Seek fullness of life which can be found only in God,” he said.

“Avoid all enticements of the devil. They don’t need to get refund. Just keep out of the devil’s reach. For their own sake and for the love of God,” added Arguelles.

But Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond Palatino expressed confidence that the Filipino youth, who had attended the concert last night, have strong morals that would enable them to enjoy the artist’s music, at the same time shun the negative behaviors, attitude, or lifestyle that the concert may impart on them.

“We can survive two nights of Lady Gaga,” he assured.

He told various Christian and religious groups, and asked their leaders to let the younger generation enjoy the two-night concert of Lady Gaga.

“I am confident that our Filipino youth is matured enough not to follow whatever bad influence that they can see being embodied by Lady Gaga while being able to appreciate her music,” Palatino said.

“We survived 14 years of Martial Law. We can survive two nights of Lady Gaga since not all members of the young generation are going to see the concert,” he explained.

Palatino, one of the youngest lawmakers in the Lower Congress, also asked religious leaders to be more “tolerant” of the situation and give the younger generation the chance to discern on their own and make their own decision.

On the other hand, a certain Pastor Nanding Paunil had forwarded a text message to the public, saying that “Satan is now moving through the life of Lady Gaga,” who will perform in 116 cities all over the world.

Paunil said the singer promotes sexual immorality through her song, particularly “Born This Way,” and humiliates Jesus Christ in her song “Judas.”

Malacañang, however, said it would be up to the parents and guardians to guide their children on the issue of immorality purportedly contained in Lady Gaga’s songs.

Lady Gaga was banned from having a concert in Indonesia. In South Korea, those below 18 years old were prohibited from watching her concert.

source: mb.com.ph