Rightways: Security

Showing posts with label Security. Show all posts

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Getting it right on the road

Potentially lifesaving: Being aware of emergency phones along highways and Rest and Service areas can contribute to making journeys safer. — ART CHEN/The Star

PETALING JAYA: With millions travelling on the highways during the festive Hari Raya season, paying attention to the road safety features and tips could help reduce accidents while also saving lives, say road safety experts.

The advice comes as a total of 2,929 road accidents and 53 deaths were recorded in just a day on the eve and first day of Raya on April 9 and 10 respectively.

Road safety expert Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua from Universiti Putra Malaysia said most drivers tend to overlook the important road safety features along the major highways.

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“Educating the public about road safety features along highways is crucial, particularly with the expected increase in traffic during the Raya festive period.

“Highlighting lesser-known road safety features, such as emergency phones at intervals along the highway and strategically located Rest and Service Areas (RSA), are essential for enhancing driver awareness and promoting safer journeys,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Other common safety features usually taken for granted by drivers are the lane markings, reflective studs and the Variable Message Signs (VMS) which are strategically located along the highways.

“The VMS provide real-time updates on traffic conditions, accidents and road closures, enabling drivers to make informed decisions and adjust their routes accordingly to avoid potential hazards,” he said.

The lane markings and reflective studs serve as visual cues, especially during night time or bad weather, by helping drivers stay within their lanes while maintaining safe distances from other vehicles, Law added.

While there are currently traffic surveillance cameras to help monitor traffic, he suggested the use of AI-powered analytics and predictive modelling as tools to further enhance road safety along the highways.

Law noted that ultimately, it is raising public awareness among drivers on such road safety features which is crucial.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) expects over two million vehicles to be on major highways during the Raya holidays during peak on April 5, 6, 9, 12, 13 and 14 which is a 15% increase from the usual 1.82 million daily traffic volume.

Highway concessionaire Anih Bhd expects some 1.9 million vehicles to use the KL-Karak (KLK) Expressway and about 882,000 travelling on the East Coast Expressway Phase 1 (LPT1) concessionaire during the festive period.

Some 2.4 million vehicles are expected to travel in and out of Penang over the six-day Raya festive period starting from April 8.

Malaysian Road and Transportation Safety Association president MD Hairolazaman Muhamed Nor said drivers and motorcyclists should be aware of broken down or parked vehicles on emergency lanes or road shoulders on highways.

“Motorists should be on the lookout for such stationary vehicles on highways.

“The driver and passengers of the stalled vehicles should step out quickly and take shelter at a safe spot.

“Preferably, they should be behind the steel safety barriers or railings before seeking help,” he said.

Hairolazaman also said that planning one’s journey could help ease difficulties that might arise during emergencies while on the highway.

Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon said that some cars nowadays have “eCall” feature which their owners may not be aware of.

“The eCall feature will automatically contact emergency responders in the event of a serious road accident including providing GPS coordinates to emergency services,” he said when contacted.

He added that eCall system would likely become a common added safety feature in cars which could prove helpful in the event of a serious crash.

He also advised drivers of stalled vehicles to move their vehicles to a safe area and stay behind the crash barriers while waiting for help to come.

“Some drivers think they will be safer waiting in their stalled vehicles but it is more dangerous,” he added.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd senior general manager of operations Mohd Yusuf Abd Aziz advised motorists to stay updated on traffic flow and plan their travel schedule using the PLUS smartphone application.

“Travel duration would be longer due during the peak periods due to increased traffic.

“Ensure your vehicles are roadworthy for the travel and pull over at rest areas for a break after every two hours of driving,” added Mohd Yusuf.

Road Safety Experts Association and Safety Driving Centre advisor Datuk Suret Singh said motorcyclists, especially those on smaller machines, and drivers of heavy vehicles such as buses and lorries, should keep to the left lane or slow lane at all times while on the highway.

“Motorcyclists riding at night should don luminous safety vests to stay visible to other motorists or they will be courting disaster,” the former Miros chairman added.

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Monday, November 20, 2023

Using algorithms to check fraud

New way: In addition to developing algorithms to trace money that could have ended up in the hands of fraudsters, the NFP will be able to forecast the pattern of mule accounts. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star

New National Fraud Portal to streamline end-to-end scam responses

PETALING JAYA: The National Fraud Portal (NFP) will be able to predict the pattern of mule accounts as well as create algorithms to track funds that may have fallen into the hands of scammers, says Bank Negara governor Datuk Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour.

Bank Negara, he said, had decided to put more effort into curbing fraud, especially online financial fraud, as the perpetrators were not only “getting smarter by the hour” but also more sophisticated in their use of new technologies.

These efforts, said Abdul Rasheed, were also in line with the National Risk Assessment of 2023 findings that fraud was one of the five high-risk crimes beside corruption, drug trafficking, smuggling and organised crime.

ALSO READ: NFP requires certain policies to be effective, say experts

“Bank Negara is actively collaborating with PayNet and the financial industry to launch the NFP by the middle of next year.

“Building on the framework and foundations of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), the NFP will streamline the industry’s end-to-end scam response, from initial identification and reporting to the recovery of funds.

“This platform will enhance efficiency by automating processes, enabling a more rapid response to assist victims.

“We envision the NFP expanding to include predictive assessments of mule accounts, advanced analytics, and fund-tracing algorithms,” said Abdul Rasheed, declining to divulge further details.

ALSO READ: Budget 2024: National Scam Response Centre allocation doubled to RM20mil

PayNet is the national provider of financial market utilities, set up to build inclusive, accessible and efficient payments and financial ecosystems for Malaysia.

Bank Negara is PayNet’s single largest shareholder, with 11 of the country’s financial institutions as joint shareholders.

Abdul Rasheed said since the NSRC was launched in October 2022, it had received over 19,000 reports on scam cases, leading to the freezing of over RM60mil and the identification of 43,000 mule accounts.

The NFP currently being worked on by the central bank stems from the success of measures such as the “kill switch” for customers introduced by all major banks, he said.

“Falling victim to financial fraud is undoubtedly difficult for those affected, with some victims losing their entire life savings and struggling to regain their economic footing.

ALSO READ: National fraud portal to be ready by mid-2024 - BNM

“With the support of the banking associations, all major banks have implemented these measures, including restricting authentication apps to a single device and introducing a ‘kill switch’ for customers.

“We have observed a 58% reduction in unauthorised online banking transactions reported to the NSRC in the last five months.

“Bank Negara is now also assessing a number of additional policy enhancements on the handling of financial scams.

“This includes strengthening the requirements for financial institutions to undertake more robust investigations, adopt stronger preventive controls, and review the effectiveness of these mechanisms.

“We also plan to clarify the responsibilities of customers to protect themselves and their rights if they fall victim to fraud,” said Abdul Rasheed.

Bank Negara’s efforts to curb scams have been ongoing, with the past year seeing financial institutions migrate from the one-time password (OTP) system to having a ‘cooling-off period’ for the first-time registration of online banking services or secure devices and limiting authentication to one device per customer.

Banks now have their own scam hotlines with more advisories for their customers.

A source with Bank Negara said the portal’s secrecy was one of the key factors in ensuring that scammers were not working in tandem with its development.

“It is crucial that we are one step ahead of the scammers. The problem has always been that we are always running behind the scammers, and now we are playing catch-up,” said the source.

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Scam rampant, become a ‘scamdemic', with victims being forced to commit online crimes also believed to have set up scam centres in Malaysia

Scam rampant, become a ‘scamdemic', with victims being forced to commit online crimes also believed to have set up scam centres in Malaysia
Cause for concern: The actual number of Malaysians who have fallen victim to job scams is unknown, although the Malaysian International Hum...

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Fumio Kishida's 'gift packs' for Southeast Asia are ominous

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on November 2, 2023. Photo: VCG

Japanese PM Kishida unveils stimulus package as approval ratings slump

Japan PM Kishida in Philippines to boost defence, security ties

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit the Philippines and Malaysia from November 3 to 5. This is his first visit to these two Southeast Asian countries since taking office as the prime minister. The "gift packs" he will take with him were revealed in advance by the Japanese media. Unlike previous Japanese prime ministers' visits that often focused on promoting economic diplomacy, this time the "gift packs" mainly contained "lethal weapons," which not only appear ominous but also strongly suggest that Kishida's trip will be a "troublemaking journey."

According to reports from multiple Japanese media outlets, Kishida's visit is primarily focused on strengthening defense and security cooperation with the Philippines and Malaysia. It is worth noting that Japan will, for the first time, provide the Philippines with coastal surveillance radar under Japan's Official Security Assistance (OSA) mechanism approved in April. Malaysia, which has traditionally emphasized cooperation with China, has kept certain vigilance, with reports suggesting that discussions have been progressing slowly, and Kishida would likely explain it to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and attempt to gain his support for the initiative. It is evident that the Philippines is the main target of Japan's breakthrough in this visit, and public attention is also more focused on defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.

According to Japan's design, the OSA aims to provide defense equipment to the armed forces of the so-called "like-minded" countries, which, in simpler terms, is military assistance. It is distinct from Japan's previous emphasis on the Official Development Assistance (ODA) in its diplomacy. Although it differs by only one letter, it represents a significant shift in nature. Moving from the ODA, which had a character of atonement for World War II and was focused on helping improve the livelihoods of recipient countries and enhancing economic and trade relations, to the militarily-oriented OSA signifies that Japanese diplomacy, and even Japan's national character, has crossed a threshold set by Japan's Peace Constitution.

In fact, both the establishment and utilization of the OSA mechanism and Kishida's "troublemaking journey" are not isolated singular events. They are manifestations of the regional impact of Japan's national security strategy transformation represented by the three strategic documents at the end of last year. In its new national security strategy, Japan positions China as an "unprecedented and greatest strategic challenge" and seeks to jointly deal with it with allies and "like-minded countries." The OSA is a tool to implement Japan's strategic vision.

It can be said that Tokyo has been searching for suitable partners to implement the OSA mechanism, and the Philippines is one of its preferred targets. Since this year, Japan has strengthened its security cooperation with the Philippines through military exercises, dialogues, and other means. The Philippines has also shown interest in the "Indo-Pacific Strategy," particularly the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. Now, with the US preoccupied with the Ukraine crisis and the Israel-Palestine conflict, Japan believes it must take over the baton from the US and support the Philippines in its adventurous actions in the South China Sea in various forms. It is not ruled out that Japan may even take more active and forceful measures to "support the Philippines" in the future, which has become one of the factors influencing whether the situation in the South China Sea will continue to escalate.

Manila should understand that Kishida's "gift packs" may be flashy, but it is not free, and it comes with a high cost. Let's take a look at how the former chief of staff, joint staff, Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF), Katsutoshi Kawano, "envisioned" future defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines: Japan's military aid to the Philippines will expand step by step and will change to include lethal weapons such as anti-ship missiles; Manila, in turn, could give Japan access to its military bases, as it does with the US, allowing Japanese SDF aircraft to patrol the South China Sea. If such a scenario were to occur, it would undoubtedly be a nightmare for Manila's sovereignty and security.

Former Japanese prime minister Takeo Fukuda proposed the basic principle of Japan's foreign policy toward Southeast Asia, known as "Fukuda Doctrine" in Manila in 1977, which emphasized that Japan would not become a military power and would contribute to peace and prosperity in Southeast Asia and the world. It was widely welcomed by Southeast Asian countries. When ASEAN upgraded its relationship with Japan to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in September of this year, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong expressed hope for stronger cooperation between the two sides in areas such as cybersecurity and the digital economy, climate change and green economy, and connectivity. What Southeast Asian countries need and expect has always been clear. Any actions that provoke regional tensions under the guise of "security" are unwelcome, and Japan, which desires to become a "normal country," will only become more abnormal due to these moves.

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Japan's manipulation of Southeast Asia will exacerbate the division within ASEAN while escalating tensions in SCS region: experts

Japan’s implementation of OSA framework with Manila is anti-peace, a cause for concern

The Official Security Assistance framework’s application by Japan, driven by its desire to create chaos and provoke conflicts, ...

Japan should cherish the spirit of the four political documents

Only by adhering to this spirit can China-Japanese relations continue to develop in a healthy manner.

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After Japanese PM Fumio Kishida sent a ritual offering on Tuesday for the fall festival at Tokyo's notorious ...\

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Thursday, October 12, 2023

Crooked cops under the spotlight; Bukit Aman CID chief pleased with public reception to his stern address to his personnel

Penang police chief Mohd Shuhaily appointed new KL top cop as Bukit Aman CID director followed rigorous selection proc process

Newly- appointed CID director who exposed the state of decay in the ranks has given a clear warning to cops on the payroll of criminal syndicates.

THE rot in our police force is far worse than imagined but there is a glimmer of hope: It is no longer being swept under the carpet.

The head of Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, has pledged this in no uncertain terms.

At a meeting in Penang on Friday, which was supposed to be a welcoming mandate ceremony for him as the newly promoted director, he stunned the 130 state and district CID chiefs with the brutal expose of the decay in the system.

Comm Shuhaily, the former KL police chief, was blunt in his warning to corrupt officers working in cahoots with criminal rackets. His notice to them: “Change or be changed.”

“You’re willing to sacrifice the lives of your comrades because of the money you get from syndicates. In other words, there are some here who are willing to kill each other for money,” the CID director said during the closeddoor conference.

The video footage of his speech was posted online and has since gone viral.

Comm Shuhaily said the venality and corruption in the system has remained unchecked because there is no supervision, especially in monitoring the lifestyles of officers and lower ranking police personnel.

For example, he questioned how it is possible for a sergeant to buy a Toyota Alphard, Vellfire, or a Mercedes with money earned only from his salary.

(A police sergeant comes under Grade YA5, for which the minimum salary is RM1,824 with the maximum of RM5,801. The base model of Toyota Alphard costs RM464,000. With a year’s insurance of RM14,366 and road tax of RM4,182, the on-the-road price of the vehicle is a whopping RM482,548. Reconditioned models a few years older cost about RM40,000 to RM50,000 less.)

“Have their superiors ever asked how they could afford such luxury vehicles based on the salaries they earn, or whether they have declared their assets? This is all part of existing police task force directives,” he said.

Comm Shuhaily said the supervising officers were not just negligent in motoring junior officers but were also directly involved by being on the criminal syndicates’ payroll.

“Some are equally bad. They go and buy these luxury cars together with their sergeants and even pick out the registration plate numbers together. Isn’t this what’s happening?” he said, underscoring the state of corruption in the force.

Addressing those in the meeting who had not met the basic requirements of their responsibilities, he said they would be removed from the CID and barred from holding any higher rank.

Citing the observation of the late former IGP Tan Sri Mohd Bakri Omar, who served from 2003 to 2006, he said most officers were “promoted to the level of incompetence”.

“They make wrong decisions or dare not decide nor give directives when needed. They play safe all the time to get their positions. They are only clever at PR.”

Describing irresponsible officers and those who work with criminal rackets for monthly payments as “traitors”, he said they were not fit to talk about defending the country, race or religion.

Comm Shuhaily said he expected everyone in the CID, from officers in the Bukit Aman HQ to personnel in stations across the country, to stop associating with criminal syndicates.

Although there is cynicism in the ranks over the CID director’s admonition, likening it to the adage of “A new broom sweeps clean”, Malaysians have largely welcomed the man’s trenchant warning against police misconduct.

But in all honesty, what are the chances of our police force being cleansed under the existing laws to check abuses and accountability?

It won’t happen with the Independent Police Conduct

Commission (IPCC) Act 2020, which has been described as “toothless” by human rights and civil society groups.

The IPCC, which only came into force this July after being passed three years ago, does not have the key ingredient for it to be effective: authority to discipline.

This lame piece of legislation has also weakened the scant police oversight provided under the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC). The IPCC does not even include search and investigation powers provided under the EAIC.

The IPCC has no powers to act against police officers found guilty of wrongdoing. It can only recommend proposed actions to the Police Force Commission or other appropriate authorities.

It is a poor substitute for the original Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), first mooted in 2005 as part of 125 recommendations by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police.

Members of the commission included prominent figures such as a former IGP, representatives of the police force and the Retired Senior Police Officers’ Association of Malaysia, among others.

The establishment of the IPCMC to probe cases of police abuse and to discipline culprits responsible was among the commission’s main recommendations.

Although a proposed Bill was drafted as part of the report, resistance from within the police force was too strong for it to make any headway.

In July 2019, the then ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, tabled its IPCMC Bill, which was criticised as a gross disappointment from what was initially proposed by the commission.

But the IPCMC Act was stymied when the Pakatan government collapsed in February 2020 with the crossing over of many of its MPS in the wake of the “Sheraton Move”.

Among all forms of corruption, it is graft within the police force which hurts a country the most. In Malaysia, it has come to a level where corrupt officers are in the pockets of criminal rackets.

Meaningful reform cannot take place if the cops are allowed to continue investigating misconduct cases involving their own. Or if corrupt officers are only given slaps on wrists by being transferred out or barred from promotion.

The only viable solution to cleanse the much-marred image of our police force is to set up the IPCMC as it was first proposed 18 years ago. It is still not too late to do so.

- Media consultant M. Veera Pandiyan likes this quote by a US Chief Justice, Earl Warren: “The police must obey the law while enforcing the law.” The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.

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Bukit Aman CID chief pleased with public reception to his stern address to his personnel

Overwhelming public response to CID director's candid advice

KUALA LUMPUR: Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain says he was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming response from the public following the video of his recent address to CID officers.

The Bukit Aman CID director said it showed that the public knew about the state of the police, and that it was an "open secret".

"I firmly believe if we are plagued by disease, we must first admit it.

"If we don't, then the doctor could not administer the right cure or medicine," he told a press conference in Bukit Aman on Wednesday (Oct 11).

He was commenting on the recent videos of his address to CID officers, where he was hard hitting, including highlighting wrongdoings of some officers.

"What I did is just amplifying what the IGP and Deputy IGP have been saying in wanting to clean up the police force.

"They have been saying it, I merely amplify it," he lamented.

Comm Mohd Shuhaily said as an initial move, all CID officers holding sensitive positions, including district CID chiefs and D7 (Secret Societies, Gambling and Vice Division), have to declare their assets, and must be transparent and comprehensive.

"If someone is able and can afford a certain lifestyle, they must show they have legitimate sources of income.

"We will conduct continuous auditing to ensure high integrity among CID officers," he said.

Comm Mohd Shuhaily also said applications for sensitive positions in the department were also open.

"We will issue the offer to any officer or personnel.

"They must send their application letter along with forms declaring their assets," he said, emphasising that his address was a call for his officers to change.

"Whatever we do, it will have a reaction, be it positive or negative.

"However, the overall reaction by the public has been positive, but we need the public to help us.

"Change belongs to you," said Comm Mohd Shuhaily, who added the reason the video was disseminated was so that it could reach a wider audience.

"During the address, I could only address 140 officers present at the venue, whereas I have 10,000 officers and personnel in the department," he said.

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Thursday, September 21, 2023

China's Ministry of State Security reveals US' infiltration of Huawei traced back to 2009

cyber attack Photo:VCG

#GTGraphic: China’s Ministry of State Security revealed that US’ infiltration of #Huawei headquarters' servers can be traced back to 2009. Here are some main means through which US intelligence agencies engage in cyberattacks and cyber espionage: -Establishing #cyberattack arsenals -Coercing tech companies to open backdoors -Distorting truth globaltimes.cn/page/202309/12…

The US' infiltration of Huawei headquarters' servers can be traced back to 2009, China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) said in an article released on Wednesday. The Chinese ministry disclosed despicable methods of cyber espionage adopted by US intelligence agencies, which include establishing cyberattack arsenals, coercing technology companies to cooperate, and distorting the truth to accuse others.

The MSS first revealed that the US has established cyberattack arsenals, and that US intelligence agencies have been resorting to extreme measures to conduct surveillance, espionage and cyberattacks across multiple countries worldwide, including China. Particularly, the US' National Security Agency (NSA), through its Office of Tailored Access Operations (TAO) and advanced arsenal, has repeatedly carried out systematic and platform-based attacks on China, attempting to steal important data resources.

According to the MSS, TAO began to invade Huawei headquarters' servers and carry out continuous monitoring in 2009. In September 2022, TAO was found to have carried out tens of thousands of malicious cyberattacks over a prolonged period targeting China, including China's Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU). The US controlled tens of thousands of network devices and stole a vast amount of high-value data.

US cyberattacks are indiscriminate, as they not only target governments to steal political or military intelligence, but also indiscriminately attack businesses and critical infrastructure, Tang Lan, director of the Center for Cyberspace Security and Governance Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The ability of US intelligence agencies to launch large-scale cyberattacks relies on a diverse range of cyber weapons. Since 2022, China's cybersecurity agencies have disclosed multiple cyber weapons used by US intelligence agencies, such as Bvp47, Quantum, FOXACID and Hive.

US intelligence agencies used these sophisticated weapons to carry out network attacks and cyber espionage targeting 45 countries and regions worldwide, including China and Russia, for over one decade. The targets of these cyberattacks include crucial sectors such as telecommunications, scientific research, economy, energy and the military, the MSS noted.

The aggressiveness of cyberattacks carried out by the US is very prominent because the country aims to gain control over cyberspace and achieve an absolute advantage globally, Tang said.

This is quite different from the previous practices of the US, which used to have more restraint and would not overtly display its intentions or methods, according to Tang. "Cyberattacks have become the US' major tool in great-power competition. The country no longer conceals its intentions, but directly and clearly expresses its desire to obtain absolute initiative in cyberspace," she said.

The US also forced technology companies to cooperate. The US government, using national security as an excuse, forcefully implanted backdoors into devices, software, and applications of relevant technology companies via acts such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. By using methods like embedded code and vulnerability attacks, the US achieved global data monitoring and theft, leveraging the influence of global technology companies.

In December 2020, US location data company X-Mode Social was exposed for obtaining location data through an embedded software development kit in mobile applications and selling the data to contractors closely associated with the US military and intelligence agencies. In April 2022, Anomaly Six, a company with ties to military intelligence, was exposed for embedding its internal tracking software development kit into numerous mobile applications, thereby tracking the location data and browsing information of billions of mobile phones worldwide and aggregating and selling the data to the US government.

The US was found to have been carrying out extensive cyberattacks and espionage activities across the globe, while also fabricating security reports in a creative manner, smearing China as the primary cyber threat actor and hyping the so-called Chinese cyber espionage issue, perfectly exemplifying its ability to distort the truth.

It is well known that the US has long been engaged in large-scale surveillance and espionage activities against countries around the world, including its allies, leveraging its technological advantage. Since the exposure of the Prism spying incident in 2013, China's cybersecurity agencies have repeatedly discovered the involvement of the US in cyberattacks targeting China.

In recent years, the US has intensified its Hunt Forward Operations (HFOs), with clear targets being Russia, Iran, China and North Korea. US Cyber Command is becoming an expeditionary force, disguising its actions as HFOs and proactive defense, while conducting cyberattacks and espionage against other countries.

However, the US continues to portray itself as a victim of cyberattacks at the same time. Under the banner of maintaining "cyber security," the US is instigating and coercing other countries to join the so-called Clean Network program, attempting to eliminate Chinese companies from the international cyber market.

In fact, the "Clean Network" is a sham, while suppressing opponents and maintaining hegemony is the US' real intention. In response, the Chinese government has repeatedly urged the US to deeply reflect on its own actions and cease global cyberattacks and espionage activities, as well as stop using false information channels to muddy public opinion, the MSS noted.

Recently, China's National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center reported that during the handling of a cyberattack case on NPU, they successfully extracted a spyware sample called Second Date, which is a network spy weapon developed by the NSA and operates covertly in thousands of network devices spread across multiple countries worldwide.

The US will continuously upgrade its arsenal of cyber weapons in the future, as well as constantly enrich its means and methods for conducting cyberattacks, Tang said.

The MSS stressed that cyberspace is increasingly becoming a new battlefield for safeguarding national security. Without cybersecurity, there is no national security, and no stable operation of the economy and society, while the interests of the general public are also difficult to guarantee. The MSS called for solidarity to strengthen security awareness, and to enhance security capabilities, so as to jointly safeguard cybersecurity.