Grab is now charging a new 1% fee for credit card top-ups to its GrabPay Wallet! Here is what you need to know…
Grab: New 1% credit card top-up fee starts today!
Grab has begun charging a new 1% fee for credit card top-ups to its GrabPay Wallet today – from 11 September 2024 onwards!
What this means is Grab will now deduct 1% from all credit card reloads. If you top up your GrabPay Wallet by RM100, you will only receive RM99.
This 1% fee will apply to all credit card reloads to GrabPay Wallet, except for the co-branded Maybank Grab Mastercard Platinum credit card.
This decision by Grab to charge a 1% fee for credit card reloads come after TNG Digital implemented a similar 1% credit card reload fee for its Touch ‘n Go eWallet in February 2024.
How to reload GrabPay Wallet without 1% top-up fee
According to Grab, you can still continue to top-up their GrabPay Wallet for free using your GX account, bank transfers, or using a debit card.
And of course, if you have the Maybank Grab Mastercard Platinum credit card, you will be able to reload your GrabPay Wallet for free.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Will the QR code on a free water bottle really empty your bank account if you scan it?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : QR Code On Free Water Bottle Will Empty Your Bank Account!
People are sharing a video on WhatsApp and social media, claiming or suggesting that water bottles are being distributed by scammers, and scanning the QR code on those water bottles will empty your bank accounts!
Don’t scan any gift QR, it will Zero your bank account.
The scammer put a new thermos bottle on the iron door. Never scan the QR code on a thermos. Once scanned, the money from the bank account was stolen by the fraudsters. Please spread the word
Here is a translated transcript of what the man says in the video below:
After we came out of the house, we saw this tumbler. This is one of the ways they placed the tumbler on our gates. My house received one, my neighbour also received one. See.
So people have to be careful because the bottle says “Scan QR get RM200 cash coupon”. Go Shopping. You have to be careful. My neighbour also received one.
Truth : QR Code On Free Water Bottle Will Not Empty Your Bank Account!
This appears to be yet another example of fake news circulating online, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Go Shopping Appears To Be Legitimate App
I traced the Go Shopping app to both the Google Play Store (archive), and the Apple App Store (archive), and it appears to be a genuine mobile app. In both stores, it describes itself as:
Go Shopping is an online shopping app primarily serving the Southeast Asian region. It has expanded to over 7 countries, amassing more than 200,000 users. Go Shopping garners support from major source manufacturers, differentiating it from other e-commerce platforms.
As a rapidly growing new e-commerce platform, Go Shopping offers Southeast Asian users high value-for-money shopping, a wide range of products, and various discount plans. Many popular products on the Go Shopping platform are available at substantial discounts of 40% to 60%. Consumers can learn more about products and join flash sale groups
In the Google Play Store, the developer was listed as NWS Hardware Trading, while in the Apple App Store, the developer was listed as Yap Chee Leong.
In the Google Play Store, the Go Shopping app has a 3.5 star rating, and it has a 3.3 star rating in the Apple App Store.
Fact #2 : NWS Hardware Trading Appears To Be Legitimate Company
I looked up NWS Hardware Trading, and it appears to be a genuine company that was incorporated on 10 May 2022 in Malaysia, with the SSM registration number of 003396291-V.
According to CTOS (archive), its official business type was listed as “trading in furniture hardware and aluminium glass door for kitchen and wardrobe“.
However, on two different job recruitment websites (here, here), NWS Hardware Trading uses the same Go Shopping logo, and says that it aims to create “a reliable business platform for shoppers to buy good products and save money“:
About NWS Hardware Trading
WORTH is aimed to present a reliable business platform for the Shoppers to buy the good products and save money. More than 3,000 manufacturers and suppliers have business cooperation with us to help factories clear their inventories.
This basically confirms that NWS Hardware Trading is a legitimate company registered in Malaysia, and it developed and owns the Go Shopping app that is available in both the Google Play Store, and the Apple App Store.
QR code (which is short for Quick Response code) is not nefarious or malicious in nature.
The QR code is merely a type of two dimensional barcode that was invented in 1994 by the Japanese company, Denso Wave, to track automotive parts. It has since been adopted for other purposes because it is more efficient and can support more than just numbers. For example, Version 40 QR code can contain up to 7,089 numbers or 4,296 characters.
Ultimately, a QR code is nothing more than a series of numbers or characters – data which can be used for a variety of purposes, including providing a link to an online restaurant menu.
Fact #4 : QR Code Cannot Empty Bank Accounts
While QR codes are not malicious by nature, scammers can and do create fake QR codes to trick people. In Texas, for example, fake QR codes were placed on parking meters to trick drivers into keying their credit card or bank login information in fake (phishing) websites that look like a genuine payment website.
I tried a number of ways to scan the QR code, but was unsuccessful. The resolution appears to be too poor in the video, or the QR code was too distorted to be scanned successfully. So I cannot confirm that the QR code leads to the Go Shopping app, or a phishing website.
That said, scanning the QR code itself won’t empty your bank account, as people are claiming on WhatsApp and social media. That’s the stuff of bad movie plots.
What can happen though is that scammers can create such water bottles using logos of legitimate companies, and insert QR codes that lead to fake (phishing) websites that masquerade as bank or payment platforms, to trick you into giving up your credit card or bank login details.
Then the scammers can use those details to make fraudulent charges on your credit card, or log into your bank account to transfer money.
Truth be told, scammers would more likely use more famous or familiar brands or apps like TNG eWallet, Grab, Maybank MAE, etc. to trick you into giving up your credit card or bank login details.
You are more likely to trust a QR code from a well-known brand, rather than an obscure brand like Go Shopping, whose app has only garnered some 10,000 downloads in the Google Play Store.
Although I cannot verify the QR code on the water bottle, this looks like a marketing promotion by NWS Hardware to promote its Go Shopping app.
Fact #6 : You Can Choose Not To Scan QR Code
If you receive such a water bottle, there is a simple solution – you can use it without scanning the QR code.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Find out how to create, join, or quit the new WhatsApp Voice Chat feature for large groups!
WhatsApp Voice Chat : What Is It?
On 14 November 2023, WhatsApp launched a new Voice Chat feature for large groups of 33 to 256 participants.
Previously, both voice and video calls in groups were limited to 32 participants, so larger groups have to manually choose which users to include under that threshold. That changed with the new Voice Chat feature, which allows larger groups of 33 to 128 participants, albeit still far below the maximum limit of 1,024 members for every WhatsApp group.
Unlike voice calls, group members won’t receive any sound notifications of Voice Chats. Instead, when you start a Voice Chat, group members will see a pop-up window in the chat group. Group members can then choose to join the voice chat, or ignore it.
Please note that WhatsApp Voice Chat is only enabled for large groups with 33 to 256 participants. It will not appear in smaller, or much larger groups.
Here is how you can create a new Voice Chat in your group.
Step 1 : Open the WhatsApp group, in which you wish to start a Voice Chat.
Step 2 : Tap on the Voice Chat option on the upper right corner of the group chat. The icon has a blue audio wavelength symbol.
If you don’t see the Voice Chat icon, that likely means your WhatsApp group is too small (32 or fewer participants), or is much too large (257 or more participants).
Step 3 : A Voice Chat pop-up will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap on Start voice chat to initiate the voice chat for the entire group.
That’s it! All members in that WhatsApp group will now see a notification about a Voice Chat, which they can join or simply ignore.
Once you wish to end the Voice Chat, simply tap on the red X icon on the pop-up.
As you can see, it’s easy to create a new Voice Chat, and to stop it once you are done.
If you find this guide useful, please share it with your family and friends!
As you can see, it’s easy to join and quit any Voice Chat in your WhatsApp group.
You can also see how the Voice chat option appears like a message in the group, allowing participants to ignore and continue with their posts, and replies.
If you find this guide useful, please share it with your family and friends!
WhatsApp Voice Chat : Some Important Notes
Please take note of these limitations or possible concerns:
Voice chats are only available for groups of 33 to 256 people.
This feature is only available on your primary device.
Group members not in the voice chat can see the profiles of those in the voice chat from the chat header and the Calls tab.
Voice chats will end automatically once everyone has left the chat. They’ll also end if no one joins the first or last person in the chat for 60 minutes.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
TNG Digital just announced a 1% fee for all credit card reloads to the Touch ‘n Go eWallet! Here is what you need to know…
Touch ‘n Go eWallet To Charge 1% Fee For Credit Card Reloads!
TNG Digital just announced a 1% fee for all credit card reloads to the Touch ‘n Go eWallet, from 24 February 2024 onwards!
Touch ‘n Go eWallet users will have to switch to DuitNow Transfer, and debit card, for their reloads.
TNG Digital say that it made this move to reduce the high cost of credit card reloads that it has been subsidising all this while, and to curb the cashing out of the credit card reloads to bank accounts.
This move is to curb excessive cashing out of credit card balance to bank accounts and offset the heavy cost of credit card reloads which TNGD has been subsidising since its inception.
Users are encouraged to use bank transfers via DuitNow which has exactly the same process as fund transfer among bank accounts.
– TNG Digital CEO Alan Ni
TNG Digital had earlier reduced the amount of credit card reloads that Touch ‘n Go eWallet users can transfer to their bank accounts. In March 2023, it reduced the amount of transferable credit card reloads to RM1,000 per month.
Upon exceeding that RM1,000 limit, users can choose to further use their credit cards for reloads with a 1% fee. The new February 2024 policy basically removes the free credit card reload for the first RM1,000.
How To Avoid 1% Fee On Touch ‘n Go eWallet Reloads
From 24 February 2024 onwards, the only ways to get free reloads on the Touch ‘n Go eWallet is to use DuitNow Transfer, or your debit card.
Reloading using your debit card is no different from using your credit card, so it should be easy for you to simply switch to your debit card.
Transferring using DuitNow Transfer is, unfortunately, not so straightforward with the Touch ‘n Go eWallet. For those who are not familiar with using DuitNow Transfer, here’s a quick guide:
Look For Your DuitNow Account Number
Step 1 : Open and log into your Touch ‘n Go eWallet.
Step 2 : Click on the Profile button at the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 3 : Under your name, you will see your 12-digit DuitNow account number. Write it down, or click on the copy button to copy it.
Reload Using Your DuitNow Account Number
Step 1 : Log into your preferred bank’s app or website.
Step 2 : Select the Transfers option.
Step 3 : Select the Transfer to other banks option.
Step 4 : Select Touch ‘n Go eWallet or DuitNow Transfer option.
Step 5 : Key in your Touch ‘n Go eWallet DuitNow account number.
Step 6 : Key in the amount you want to transfer, and click the Next or Transfer.
Step 7 : In the transfer summary page, verify the details and click Proceed. If you wish, you can also select “Add as Favourite” to make it easier to transfer more funds in the future.
As you can see, the DuitNow Transfer isn’t as user-friendly as using the credit card, which could put off many users. So a better alternative might be to use your debit card instead. Even so, I foresee many people switch to alternative e-wallets for payments.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Motorists in Malaysia can soon digitally renew their driving licence and road tax through the MyJPJ app… with a discount too!
Motorists Can Renew Licence + Road Tax Via MyJPJ App!
On Tuesday, 2 January 2024, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that, effective 1 February 2024, motorists will be able to digitally renew their driving licence and motor vehicle licence (Lesen Kenderaan Motor, or LKM for short), which is colloquially known as the “road tax”.
The digital renewal of driving licence and road tax through the MyJPJ app will be carried out in stages. Initially, this feature will only be available to privately-owned vehicles belonging to Malaysian citizens.
These new features will make it easier for motorists in Malaysia to renew their driving licence and road tax digitally, saving time and costs, as well as reduce traffic and congestion at JPJ counters.
RM5 Discount If You Renew Digital Driving Licence!
On top of that, Anthony Loke also announced that for the year 2024, motorists who opt for the digital driving licence will receive a RM5 discount!
This RM5 discount or rebate applies to those who renew their digital driving licence, from 1 February until 31 December 2024, through:
the JPJ counter,
the mySIKAP portal,
the MyJPJ app, or
JPJ partners like Pos Malaysia or MyEG
However, this initiative to promote the use of digital driving licence is limited to Malaysian citizens. Foreigners, or pass holders, long-term permit holders, or people with MyKAS or MyPR cards will not receive this RM5 discount / rebate.
This initiative is only for Malaysians, and is not extended to to foreign nationals on any pass, long-term permit, MyKAS Card, MyPR Card holders.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
As nice as this discount is, I should point out that motorists who plan to drive overseas should still request for a physical driving licence. Otherwise, you may face issues with foreign law enforcement officials!
Physical Licence + Road Tax Still Available For Those Who Renew In 2024
Anthony Lok also announced that the physical driving licence and road tax will still be available for motorists who renew them in 2024.
However, JPJ will no longer provide them in their previous plastic forms. Instead, they will be printed on security paper, for those who prefer a physical copy.
As announced earlier, motorists are no longer required to display the road tax sticker on their vehicles. This applies to the new paper road tax.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
WhatsApp just announced that it will stop providing free unlimited backup for its Android users! Find out what this means for you!
Previously : Free Unlimited WhatsApp Backup On Android!
From the beginning, WhatsApp has been providing its users with unlimited backup of chats and files on Android for free.
In fact, none of us ever thought about just how much storage we have been using to backup our WhatsApp chats and files. It was just something that we took for granted.
Well, that is going to change starting in December 2023… and here is what you need to know!
WhatsApp : No More Free Unlimited Backup On Android!
On Tuesday, 14 November 2023, Google Community Manager Jamie dropped a bombshell, announcing that WhatsApp will stop providing free unlimited backup on Android!
As an important heads up, WhatsApp backups on Android will soon start counting toward your Google Account cloud storage limit, similar to how WhatsApp backups are handled on other mobile platforms.
WhatsApp Is Not Charging Any Backup Fee
This does not mean WhatsApp will start charging a fee for backup storage. No, what will happen is that the storage used for your WhatsApp backup will count towards your Google Account’s cloud storage limit.
If you have a personal Google Account, you have 15 GB of free cloud storage space. Now, you will need to reserve some of that space for your WhatsApp backup.
If you choose to enable WhatsApp backups on Android, personal Google Accounts come with 15GB of storage at no charge – 3X more than most mobile platforms – that’s shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
The 15GB of free cloud storage is not a lot of space, because it is shared by Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Most users will quickly run out of space, unless they disable uploading photos to Google Photos, for example. Or regularly prune WhatsApp chats to reduce backup space.
To be clear – WhatsApp is not charging any fee to backup your old messages!
If you run out of storage, WhatsApp backup will stop working. The last backup will still be there, but you won’t be able to update that backup.
WhatsApp backups on Android will continue to work, as long as you have available space within your Google Account storage. If you hit your storage limit, you’ll need to free up space to resume backups by removing items you do not need.
What Google does not point out is that the other services relying on the same Google Account storage – Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos – will also stop working when you run out of storage!
In other words, you are being indirectly “encouraged” to pay for more Google storage. Unless you diligently restrict the amount of storage used by WhatsApp, Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
Change Only Affects “Free” Personal Accounts
Currently, this change only affects users of personal Google Accounts. Those who have a Google Workspace subscription through work or school are not affected.
In other words, Google will only stop providing free unlimited backup to people who are using free personal Google Accounts.
Those who are using paid Google Workspace accounts will continue to enjoy free and unlimited storage space for their WhatsApp backup files.
This change will start rolling out for WhatsApp Beta users in December 2023, but everyone else can expect to lose the free unlimited backup in the first half of 2024.
This change will first start rolling out to WhatsApp Beta users starting in December 2023, then gradually to all WhatsApp users on Android starting early next year.
WhatsApp said that it will let users know 30 days before the change happens through a banner in the app.
You Can Backup Onto Your Phone
WhatsApp will still offer a local backup option that won’t count towards the storage limit. However, it is a poor alternative to cloud backup.
Click on the hamburger icon and go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
Tap on the “Back up to Google Drive” option, and select “Never“.
Tap on the green Back up button, and WhatsApp will create a local backup.
The local backup file is saved on your phone’s internal storage. You will need to periodically copy it to a micro SD card, or an external storage device. Otherwise, you will not have access to the backup, if you accidentally destroy your phone.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Will your phone get hacked if you scan the TNG RFID bar code?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-11-17 : Added new version, and more details. Originally posted @ 2023-05-10
Claim : Scanning TNG RFID Bar Code Can Hack Your Phone!
This warning about an RFID bar code scam has gone viral on WhatsApp, and social media, claiming that scammers are sending people free TNG RFID stickers, and asking them to scan the bar code.
Allegedly, scanning the TNG RFID bar code will cause your phone to be hacked by these scammers!
They send the RFID to you. When you scan the bar code they hack your hp It’s a scam
他们将 RFID 发送给您。 当您扫描条形码时，他们会入侵您 这是一个骗局
Mereka menghantar RFID kepada anda. Apabila anda mengimbas kod bar mereka menggodam anda Ia satu penipuan ☠️👻💩😱😰
If you get this free RFID card via courier, please throw away. Another scam.
Truth : Scanning TNG RFID Bar Code Will NOT Hack Your Phone!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : TNG RFID Bar Code Cannot Hack Your Phone
First of all – let me just say that the TNG RFID bar code cannot hack your phone. In fact, no one can hack your phone just because you scan an RFID bar code.
The bar code is nothing more than a series of numbers, which you can readily see printed under the bar code. These numbers cannot possibly hack your phone / smartphone.
Fact #2 : TNG Bar Code Is Used To Register RFID Sticker
The bar code visible in the clear window of the TNG RFID self-fitment kit is merely the serial number for the RFID sticker (also known as an RFID tag).
This serial number is used to register the RFID sticker, by scanning scan the bar code using the TNG eWallet mobile app. All it does is link the RFID sticker to your TNG eWallet account, so that all toll charges are automatically deducted from that account.
Fact #3 : TNG RFID Swapping Can Be Easily Detected
One of our readers suggested that the scammer might have swapped out the bar code, to trick you into registering a different TNG RFID sticker owned by the scammer.
This would allow the scammer to use his/her TNG RFID sticker to go through highway tolls for free, while you would be charged for his/her travels.
While that is plausible, it would be quickly detected by the victim who would not be able to use the RFID sticker to get through the toll. The victim would also be able to detect the illegal charges to his/her TNG eWallet account.
One of our readers suggested that the scammer may be trying to trick people into scanning the barcode of a duplicated RFID sticker. The scammer can then use the duplicate RFID sticker to go through tolls, which would be charged to the victims’ TNG eWallet accounts.
Now, Touch ‘n Go has not revealed much about how it is protecting its RFID stickers, only saying that each TNG RFID sticker has an embedded radio-frequency chip that makes every sticker “unique to each customer”.
But that suggests that the RFID stickers are not only encrypted, the chip has a private key that prevents duplication, which makes a lot of sense. Without such encryption and private key, anyone can literally just read the number off any RFID sticker in a parking lot, and duplicate it in a programmable RFID sticker.
Unless the scammer has somehow stolen the private keys, and can perfectly duplicate the RFID stickers, this seems like an improbable scam. More so when the scammers would be limited to using the tolls for free. Hardly worth the effort, if you ask me.
Fact #5 : There Are Easier + Cheaper Ways To Hack Your Phone
Truth be told – there are far easier and cheaper ways to hack your phone, than send you a free RFID sticker and ask you to scan the bar code.
These scammers will have to put in considerable expense and technical expertise into hacking the TNG eWallet app, and inserting their malware that the fake RFID number would trigger.
But why bother? If they can hack the TNG eWallet, they don’t even need to send you any fake RFID bar code to scan!
Making fake RFID stickers (tags) that look like genuine TNG RFID self-fitment kits costs money. Sending these fake kits also put them at risk, because deliveries can be traced.
There are many other ways to compromise your smartphone. There is simply no reason why scammers to waste time and money on such a convoluted scheme.
The most plausible explanation for receiving a free TNG RFID sticker out of the blue is that it was wrongly delivered to you. If you receive one, check the name and address on the package. It may not be meant for you. In that case, contact the delivery company and have them resend it to the right person.
I have also personally experienced receiving packages that I did not order, some of which appear to be sent due to a database error of some sort – my name and phone number are on the package, but the address was wrong or non-existent.
Out of an abundance of caution, just don’t install any RFID sticker that you did not order. Or you can call up TNG to verify that the RFID sticker is legitimate.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Truth : It’s Not Dangerous To Exit WhatsApp Scam Groups!
This viral warning was likely created by well-meaning but clueless Internet “experts” who are apparently not tech-savvy enough to understand what’s going on.
Fact #1 : No Evidence Of WhatsApp Exit Group Hacking
First, let me just point out that there is no evidence that anyone was ever hacked after using the Exit Group link to get out of any WhatsApp group, whether they are scam groups or otherwise.
Even if an enterprising hacker / scammer was able to create a message with a fake Exit Group button that downloads an APK (Android Package Kit) file, it won’t automatically install that file. You will need to manually install the APK file from the Downloads folder.
Those who know how to do that would be tech-savvy enough to avoid installing APK files from unknown sources. Those who don’t know how to do that would not be able to install the downloaded APK file.
Fact #2 : WhatsApp Exit Group Option Is Genuine
The truth is – the Exit Group link that you may see in new messages from strangers is not a scam or a trick. It also does not download or install any APK file.
The Exit Group link is actually a safety feature in WhatsApp, that appears if you have been added to a WhatsApp group by someone who is not in your contact list – like a scammer, for example.
Once you open the new group you have been added to, WhatsApp warns you that you were added by someone who isn’t a contact. You are then given the option to exit the group, or click OK to continue.
There is really nothing malicious about this Exit group link in WhatsApp. Clicking on it to exit any WhatsApp group won’t harm you in any way, or cause your phone to be hacked.
The WhatsApp Exit group link offers an easy way to quickly remove yourself from a group you don’t want to be in. However, the older exit group methods still work, in case you prefer to use them:
Exit Group Only
Go into the group chat you wish to leave.
Tap on the kebab menu / vertical ellipsis (⋮) icon on the upper right corner.
Select More > Exit group.
An even better option is to actually report the scam group, while quitting it and removing the chat at the same time.
Report + Exit Group Only
Go into the group chat you wish to leave.
Tap on the kebab menu / vertical ellipsis (⋮) icon on the upper right corner.
Select More > Report
Make sure the Exit group and delete chat option is checked.
Tap Report to report and quit from the group, and delete the chat.
Fact #4 : WhatsApp + Telegram Scam Groups Are Real
Before I leave, I just want to remind all of you that there are many scam groups on WhatsApp and Telegram.
If you are added to any of these scam groups, just exit them without a thought. Do not read anything posted in these scam groups, lest you fall for the scam!
That’s why scammers often try to convince you to check out the group first, and “don’t rush to leave the group”:
Hello everyone! Please don’t rush to leave the group, thank you all for taking the time to read this message!
Ignore whatever they post in those scam groups. Hit the Exit group link, or better still – REPORT the group to WhatsApp / Telegram!
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Will clicking on the WhatsApp block button install a malicious app that will hack your phone?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : WhatsApp Block Button Is A Scam!
People are sharing this advice on a new WhatsApp scam involving the Block button in messages. Take a look!
New Type of Scam in Whatsapp.
Don’t press the “Block” button within the message because when you press on it then, you are effectively downloading this Malicious App. Instead go to WhatsApp setting (3 dots on the right hand top) and block the message.
Do the same if you received this kind of message in your SMS. Someone already got scammed by this fake template.
New Type of Scam in Whatsapp. Don’t press the “Block” button within the message because when you press on it then, you are effectively downloading this Malicious App. Instead go to WhatsApp setting (3 dots on the right hand top) and block the message. Do the same if you received this kind of message in your SMS. Someone already got scammed by this fake template.
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are reasons why…
Fact #1 : No Evidence Of WhatsApp Block Button Scam
First, let me just point out that there is no evidence that anyone was scammed by the WhatsApp block button in messages.
Even if an enterprising hacker / scammer was able to create a message with a fake block button that downloads an APK (Android Package Kit) file, it won’t automatically install that file. You will need to manually install the APK file from the Downloads folder.
Those who know how to do that would be tech-savvy enough to avoid installing APK files from unknown sources. Those who don’t know how to do that would not be able to install the downloaded APK file.
Fact #2 : WhatsApp Block Button Is Part Of New Safety Tools
The truth is – the Block button that you may see in new messages from strangers is not a scam. It also does not download or install any APK file.
The Block button is actually part of the new Safety Tools feature that WhatsApp started introducing in July 2023.
The Safety Tools feature will only appear when you receive a message from an unknown number. You will be given some details about the safety of this new contact – whether you are in common groups, and in some cases – the country of origin.
You are given the option of either blocking this new contact, or adding it to your Contact list. You can also click on the Safety tools link for more details.
The new WhatsApp Safety Tools offer an easy way to quickly block and remove obvious spammers and scammers. However, it may not be readily apparent whether the new contact is genuine, or just a spammer / scammer.
If you start messaging with this new contact – to find out if their identity / purpose, the Safety Tools option will disappear. But don’t worry – you can still block this new contact if you realise that he/she is a spammer / scammer.
Go to the messaging screen for the person you want to block.
Tap on the kebab menu / vertical ellipsis (⋮) icon on the upper right corner.
Select More > Block.
You can also select More > Report (to report block the scammer)
Alternatively, you can block multiple contacts using this method:
Open WhatsApp, and go to the Chats screen.
Tap on the kebab menu / vertical ellipsis (⋮) icon on the upper right corner.
Select Settings.
Tap on the Privacy option.
Scroll down and tap on Blocked contacts.
Tap on the Add Contacts () icon at the upper right corner.
Search for the contacts you want to remove, and select them.
Now, blocking people does not remove your contact details or profile photo from their phones and devices.
However, they will no longer be able to call you, or send you messages. They will also not be able to see changes to your status updates including when you’re online / last seen, or changes you make to your profile photo.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
These PDRM parking fine emails are scam emails. This was confirmed by PDRM itself.
On 7 August 2023, the Cyber Crime division of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) posted an alert warning motorists not to fall for the MyBayar scam.
These emails are designed to scare its victims into action. Hence, it offers a very cheap way to quickly “settle the problem”. However, if you take a breath, and analyse the email CAREFULLY, you will see many problems with it.
Letter is from PDRM : The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will never write to you by email.
Letter is in English : The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will never write to you in English.
Typo in the name : The fake email used My Bayar PDRM, instead of MyBayar PDRM.
Lack of name and personal details : The fake email refers generically to “Dear recipient“, without listing your full name and MyKad number.
Lack of vehicle details : The fake email doesn’t mention the vehicle make and plate number.
Lack of location details : The fake email does not mention where the offence occurred, or even when it occurred.
Fine is much too low : PDRM traffic fines are never as low as RM50. The cheapest fine is RM150 for Category 4 offences, but you can pay as low as RM70 within 15 days.
No such law : The fake email refers to the Road Traffic Act. There is no such act in Malaysia. The proper name is the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333).
No such section : If you look at the Malaysia Road Transport Act 1987 (PDF download), you will see that there is no such thing as Section 2016-691.
The email appears to be from My Bayar PDRM (typo in the name), but if you inspect the email address, you will see that it was sent by “in-to-no-reply@silverbackgames.xxx” or “hello@sooqr.com” or some other email address.
Obviously, this email did not originate from an official PDRM email address! This should immediately tell you that this is a fake or scam email!
If you click on the Pay My Fine link in the scam email, you will be taken to a fakeMy Bayar PDRM website (with the same typo in the name).
You may notice that you now have 7 days to pay the RM 50 fine, instead of just 5 days in the email. Odd, isn’t it?
Also odd is the fact that the page does not mention your name, your MyKad number, your vehicle type and model, or even its plate number! The page also doesn’t mention where the offence took place, or the time you were caught committing said offence.
Do NOT proceed after this point… This is a scam website!
But if you have itchy fingers, and click on the Pay The Fine button, you will be asked to pay for the RM50 fine using your debit or credit card.
Needless to say, PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR DEBIT / CREDIT CARD DETAILS!!!
If you provide these scammers with your debit / credit card details and TAC / OTP numbers, they will be able to charge ANY AMOUNT they want to your credit card, or withdraw ANY AMOUNT they want from your bank account!
It’s even worse if you are asked to log into your bank account to pay the fine. DO NOT DO THAT!
If you provide them with your bank login and password, as well as OTP/TAC number, these scammers will be able to transfer money out of your bank account!
Please note – this is a scam! This is a phishing attack to gain access to your credit card and/or bank account.
Regardless of how you get any notification from PDRM about any traffic offence you may have committed, you should always check the status through these official MyBayar PDRM options:
Please SHARE this warning with your family and friends!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
PDRM is warning motorists not to fall for the MyBayar scam! Here is what you need to know about the MyBayar PDRM scam!
PDRM Warning : Watch Out For MyBayar Scam
On 7 August 2023, the Cyber Crime division of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) posted an alert warning motorists not to fall for the MyBayar scam.
The MyBayar PDRM scam starts with an official-looking email that warns motorists that they have been caught contravening the law, and offers a cheap RM50 fine if paid within 5 days:
Last notice of contravention before prosecution
Dear recipient,
We are writing to draw your attention to a recent traffic violation in Malaysian jurisdiction.
Our traffic enforcement staff have observed your vehicle parked in a no-parking zone. This contravenes section (no. 2016-691] of the Road Traffic Act.
As a result of this infringement, a fine of MYR 50 has been imposed. This fine must be paid within 5 days of the date of this notification to avoid further legal consequences.
Failure to pay the fine within the allotted time may result in legal proceedings being taken against you, which could lead to increased fines, penalties and the possible suspension of your driving license.
Many people who received the MyBayar PDRM email might be shocked to find out that they were caught committing a traffic violation, and then relieved that it was only RM50 if they paid quickly.
That’s how the scammers trap their victims – by offering a cheap RM50 fine, when we all know that fines for traffic offences are at least RM150, and can go all the way up to RM1,000!
Those who received this fake MyBayar PDRM email would be tempted to quickly pay the cheap RM50 fine, before it becomes a lot more expensive!
But if you take a closer look at the email, you will spot some problems with it:
Weird English : The email title of “Last notice of contravention before prosecution” is nonsensical.
Typo in the name : The fake email used My Bayar PDRM, instead of MyBayar PDRM.
Lack of name and personal details : The fake email refers generically to “Dear recipient“, without listing your full name and MyKad number.
Lack of vehicle details : The fake email doesn’t mention the vehicle make and plate number.
Lack of location details : The fake email does not mention where the offence occurred, or even when it occurred.
Fine is much too low : PDRM traffic fines are never as low as RM50. The cheapest fine is RM150 for Category 4 offences, but you can pay as low as RM70 within 15 days.
No such law : The fake email refers to the Road Traffic Act. There is no such act in Malaysia. The proper name is the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333).
No such section : If you look at the Malaysia Road Transport Act 1987 (PDF download), you will see that there is no such thing as Section 2016-691.
The email appears to be from My Bayar PDRM (typo in the name), but if you inspect the email address, you will see that it was sent by “in-to-no-reply@silverbackgames.xxx” or “hello@sooqr.com” or some other email address.
Obviously, this email did not originate from an official PDRM email address! This should immediately tell you that this is a fake or scam email!
If you click on the Pay My Fine link in the scam email, you will be taken to a fakeMy Bayar PDRM website (with the same typo in the name).
You may notice that you now have 7 days to pay the RM 50 fine, instead of just 5 days in the email. Odd, isn’t it?
Also odd is the fact that the page does not mention your name, your MyKad number, your vehicle type and model, or even its plate number! The page also doesn’t mention where the offence took place, or the time you were caught committing said offence.
Do NOT proceed after this point… This is a scam website!
But if you have itchy fingers, and click on the Pay The Fine button, you will be asked to pay for the RM50 fine using your debit or credit card.
Needless to say, PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR DEBIT / CREDIT CARD DETAILS!!!
If you provide these scammers with your debit / credit card details and TAC / OTP numbers, they will be able to charge ANY AMOUNT they want to your credit card, or withdraw ANY AMOUNT they want from your bank account!
It’s even worse if you are asked to log into your bank account to pay the fine. DO NOT DO THAT!
If you provide them with your bank login and password, as well as OTP/TAC number, these scammers will be able to transfer money out of your bank account!
Please note – this is a scam! This is a phishing attack to gain access to your credit card and/or bank account.
Regardless of how you get any notification from PDRM about any traffic offence you may have committed, you should always check the status through these official MyBayar PDRM options:
Please SHARE this warning with your family and friends!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Please be warned – you still need a physical driving licence when you are driving overseas! Your digital driving licence is most likely not valid or legal overseas!
Fined Overseas For Not Having Physical Driving Licence!
In May 2023, two Malaysian men were fined for failing to produce their physical driving licences in Thailand.
Both men were stopped by police while riding motorcycles on car lanes in Phuket. When the Thai police officer asked for their driving licence, they showed their digital driving licences using the MyJPJ app.
However, the Thai police officer said that their digital driving licences were not valid, even though the men explained Malaysia adopted the digital driving licence in February 2023.
In the end, both men had to pay a compound at the police station for not having a valid driving licence.
Even though the incident occurred several months ago, the issue only went viral after the men posted their video in Twitter on 3 August 2023.
PSA : You Still Need Physical Driving Licence Overseas!
Please be warned that even though Malaysia has adopted the digital driving licence (e-LLM) since 10 February 2023, it is only valid in Malaysia, and not overseas!
In the future, other countries will likely accept digital driving licences, but until that happens, you still need to bring and use a physical driving licence while driving overseas.
On 5 August 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke commented on the two Malaysian men who were fined in Thailand for failing to produce a physical driving licence. He said that the digital licence is only valid in Malaysia.
He pointed out that the matter (of accepting digital licences) was subject to laws in that country, and the ministry has no authority to determine how laws in other countries are enforced.
He also said that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will continue to issue physical driving licences, so those who wish to drive overseas should apply for one at JPJ branches when renewing their driving licence.
We have no stopped the issuance of physical copies of driving licences, so if they want to drive in a country that requires a physical licence then they can apply for it at RTD counters when renewing their licence.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
Physical Driving Licence Only Available In JPJ Branches
Truth be told – this was already mentioned when the digital driving licence was adopted in February 2023. This was what I pointed out back then:
JPJ will continue to offer the physical driving licence to motorists who still prefer it, or need one to drive overseas.
But understandably, many of us probably missed that part. Or forgot that foreign governments may not readily accept the new digital driving licence.
While I’m here, I should also point out that the physical driving licence is now available only at JPJ branches. This may be a bit of a hassle, since it used to be available in Pos Malaysia branches too.
But the good news is – you can now renew your driving licence for 10 years, with a 10% discount to boot! So this should be a once-in-a-decade hassle.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Maybank just announced that all of its online, mobile and card services are up and running after going offline earlier today! Here is what you need to know…
Maybank Online + Card Services Finally Up + Running!
At 3:46 PM on 7 August 2023, Maybank sent out an alert that all of its online, mobile and card services are temporarily unavailable
Maybank2U web banking services
M2U and MAE mobile banking apps
debit and credit card usage
The only good news is that ATM and counter services appear to be unaffected by this downtime.
This announcement came hours after people started complaining that they could not log into the Maybank website.
As of 4 PM, none of Maybank’s online or mobile services are working. Neither will you be able to use your Maybank debit or credit card to make payments.
Update @ 4:30 PM : Maybank just announced that it restored Maybank2U web, the MAE app, and both debit card and credit card services!
Earlier : Maybank Online + Card Services All Down!
The Maybank downtime appeared to occur at around 1 PM or so, with Maybank initially asking users to switch to the MAE mobile app:
Good day and any inconvenience is much regretted. Based on our checking, the MAE app is operating fine at the moment.uled maintenance to improve your experience and will be back up shortly. Sorry for the inconvenience.
However, some Maybank users soon pointed out that their MAE app wasn’t working either!
Be Right Back!
We’re experiencing communication error. Please try again later.
That’s when Maybank support staff claimed that they were experiencing “intermittent slowness” on their MAE app and Maybank2U web platforms:
Kindly be informed that we are experiencing an intermittent slowness on our MAE App & M2U web platforms. We are working to resolve the matter as soon as possible. Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for your patience and continuous support.
It was only about two hours later that Maybank finally admitted that all of its mobile and online banking services were down, as well as its debit and credit card services.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
On 1 August 2023, people started sharing warnings claiming that the Malaysia Road Transport Department (JPJ) stopped issuing physical road tax stickers, except for selected groups of people like senior citizens, foreigners, and companies.
DIGITAL ROAD TAX 1) Via MyJPJ Apps 2) Via JPJ website https://public.jpj.gov.my/
Starting Tuesdsy, August 1, 2023 on Tuesday. JPJ will no longer issue physical roadtax except for Senior Citizen, Non-Citizen & Company.
The JPJ will use up the existing roadtax disk & then run the digital roadtax as a whole. Download myJPJ apps
Things you need to register MyJPJ Apps : 1) Car Owner’s Driving Licence 2) Car Owner’s Mobile Phone # 3) Car Owner’s Email Address (for verification purpose) 4) To answer a few security questions. It is advisable for the car owner to register the MyJPJ Apps themselves.
Others shared a photo taken of an actual notice posted at a JPJ branch, showing that the JPJ headquarters had indeed issued the order to stop issuing physical road tax stickers to most drivers.
JPJ Ordered To Remove ‘No Physical Road Tax’ Notice!
After the photo and warnings went viral, I checked the official Facebook pages for JPJ and Anthony Loke, but found no announcement that JPJ would stop issuing physical road tax stickers.
I also checked the JPJ website, and its own FAQ on road tax renewal – there was no mention that JPJ has already stopped issuing physical road tax stickers.
As I pointed out in my earlier article, when Transport Minister hen Anthony Loke introduced the digital road tax or motor vehicle licence (e-LKM) on 10 February 2023, he said that it was optional, and motorists would have at least until the end of 2023 to register and try out it out.
The minister also said that JPJ will continue to offer physical road tax stickers for motorists who still prefer to use it on their cars or motorcycles.
Just to be sure, I called up the JPJ contact centre. The JPJ officer on the line consulted her supervisor and then informed me that it was true that JPJ has already stopped issuing the physical road tax. She claimed that the notice was posted in the MyJPJ app.
When I checked the MyJPJ app, I could find no such notice. So I called the JPJ contact centre again. This time, a different lady told me that they were just operators, and have no idea about such matters. Seriously…
But later that day on 2 August 2023, Anthony Loke held a press conference to address this viral claim. He confirmed that the ‘No Physical Road Tax’ notice was issued by JPJ Director-General Rospiagos Taha, but said that it was only because those branches ran out of stock.
He confirmed that this was no an actual policy decision, and said that JPJ had been ordered to take down the ‘No Physical Road Tax’ notice that has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media platforms.
The (road tax) sticker is still being issued. Several branches ran out of stock and put up a notice on the non-availability of physical road tax, but it is not a policy decision. We took quick action on finding out that branches have run out of stock and will continue to order new stock.
Anthony Loke also said that the Transport Ministry had not decided on a cut-off date for the full transition to the digital road tax, and that it would take at least six months to a year before they can go fully digital. In the meantime, vehicle owners still can choose to request for, and use, the physical sticker.
But there will come a time when we will transform to fully digital. No decision has been made yet; it would take six months to one year before going fully digital.
By going digital, the Transport Ministry can reduce congestion at JPJ offices and counters by up to 80%, and save RM96 million a year in cost.
According to JPJ, only about 30% of vehicle owners have so far opted for the digital road tax. On average, about 1.5 million vehicles need to renew their road taxes every month.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Did JPJ stop issuing physical road tax stickers, except to senior citizens, foreigners and companies?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : JPJ Stopped Issuing Physical Road Tax For Most Drivers!
This message has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claiming that JPJ stopped issuing physical road tax stickers, except to senior citizens, foreigners and companies!
DIGITAL ROAD TAX 1) Via MyJPJ Apps 2) Via JPJ website https://public.jpj.gov.my/
Starting Tuesdsy, August 1, 2023 on Tuesday. JPJ will no longer issue physical roadtax except for Senior Citizen, Non-Citizen & Company.
The JPJ will use up the existing roadtax disk & then run the digital roadtax as a whole. Download myJPJ apps
Things you need to register MyJPJ Apps : 1) Car Owner’s Driving Licence 2) Car Owner’s Mobile Phone # 3) Car Owner’s Email Address (for verification purpose) 4) To answer a few security questions. It is advisable for the car owner to register the MyJPJ Apps themselves.
Truth : JPJ Did Not Stop Issuing Physical Road Tax Stickers!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Physical Road Tax Sticker No Longer Required For Most Drivers
First, let me just point out that since 10 February 2023, the physical road tax stickers for vehicles in Malaysia are no longer required, except for these vehicles:
private vehicles owned by private companies
private vehicles owned by foreigners
commercial vehicles
public service vehicles
Fact #2 : Digital Road Tax Is Optional
When Anthony Loke announced the introduction of a digital road tax or motor vehicle licence (e-LKM) on 10 February 2023, he said that it was optional, and part of the broader digitalisation plan for JPJ to provide a smoother and faster service to the people.
Don’t worry, the digital format is not mandatory. You can still obtain the road tax sticker and physical driving licence from JPJ, if required.
As mentioned in our 10 February 2023 article, the e-LKM digital road tax is OPTIONAL. You can continue request for, and use a physical sticker.
As Transport Minister Anthony Loke clarified, JPJ will continue to offer physical road tax stickers for motorists who still prefer to use it on their cars or motorcycles.
These printed stickers will be available to all motorists who request for it, at all JPJ branches.
You can still the physical road tax sticker and driving licence. Motorists are offered the option to go digital, or use the physical road tax stickers and driving licence cards.
Fact #4 : JPJ Ordered To Remove Notice!
On Thursday, 3 August 2023, Transport Minister Anthony Loke ordered JPJ to remove the notice posted at several branches, stating that the Road Transport Department was no longer issuing physical stickers for private vehicles.
Anthony Loke said that the directive, which was issued by JPJ Director-General Rospiagos Taha, was due to the non-availability of physical stickers are several branches, and NOT a policy decision.
The (road tax) sticker is still being issued. Several branches ran out of stock and put up a notice on the non-availability of physical road tax, but it is not a policy decision. We took quick action on finding out that branches have run out of stock and will continue to order new stock.
The Malaysia Transport Ministry is giving motorists until the end of 2023 at the very minimum, to register and try out the new digital road tax and digital driving licence.
On Thursday, 3 August 2023, Road Transport Minister Anthony Loke also said that a cut-off date for the full transition to digital road tax has yet to be set. Therefore, the claim that JPJ has stopped issuing physical road tax stickers is categorically false.
But there will come a time when we will transform to fully digital. No decision has been made yet; it would take six months to one year before going fully digital.
According to JPJ, only about 30% of vehicle owners have so far opted for the digital road tax.
Fact #5 : MyJPJ App Not Mandatory Either
Just to be clear – it is NOT mandatory for any motorist to download and use the MyJPJ app either. It is merely “one of the options” to obtain the digital copy of your road tax and driving licence.
It does not matter if you have no physical road tax sticker or driving licence, and are unable to show the digital versions using the MyJPJ app. The enforcement agencies can confirm the status of your road tax and driving licence through their own gadget.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
If you own an Android TV, or Android TV box, you might need to disable the Lock Screen requirement. Find out how to do that!
Why Do You Need To Disable Android TV Lock Screen?
Android TV, whether it’s already integrated into your television set, or in a separate box, requires a Google account to download and install apps through the Google Play Store.
If you have been using your Google Workspace account, or the Free Legacy G Suite account, you will likely encounter this error message:
To access your work account on this device, you’ll need to set a lock screen. This is your organization’s mobile device policy.
A lock screen? Android TV has a TV lock option, but by default, that’s disabled and rightly so – TVs traditionally do not require a password when you turn them on!
You can ignore it, and continue to use your Android TV or Android TV box, but you cannot log into Google Play Store to download and install any apps.
How To Bypass Android TV Lock Screen Requirement!
This Android TV Lock Screen error message appears because Google, by default, sets company accounts to require a Lock Screen on all mobile devices.
The easiest way to bypass this Android TV Lock Screen requirement is to simply use a personal Google Account. Or better still, create a new personal Google Account just for your Android TV.
Once you switch to a personal Google account, you won’t have to face this Lock Screen requirement, and can freely download and install apps from the Google Play Store. However, this method only works for people who only intend to download and use free apps.
If you intend to download and install a paid app, like Minecraft for example, then this method won’t work because that paid app is tied to your Google Workspace / Free Legacy G Suite account.
How To Disable Android TV Lock Screen Requirement!
If you need to use your Google Workspace / Free Legacy G Suite account (which is tied to a company) with your Android TV, then you need to disable the Lock Screen policy. In this video tutorial, we will show you just how to do that.
https://youtu.be/pe3XpfLgW_s
Just in case you prefer a step-by-step guide, here are the steps with screenshots.
Step 2 : Type “Universal Settings” in the search box at the top, and a list of relevant options will appear.
Step 3 : Click on Universal Settings. Alternatively, you can navigate manually using the menu on the left : Devices > Mobile and endpoints > Universal settings
Step 4 : In the Universal Settings page, click on General : Turn on device management and password controls to reveal the available general settings.
Step 5 : In the General section, you will see two options – Mobile management and Password requirements.
Either option will let you disable the Lock Screen requirement in Android devices. So you will need to select one of them.
I will share the two available methods as Option A and Option B below. Choose one.
Option A : Disable Mobile Management
By default, your account is set to Basic (Agentless) mobile management, which applies basic password controls (including requiring the Lock Screen).
Step 6A : Select Turn off mobile management (Unmanaged).
Step 7A : Click on Save to save the changes. The change generally happens instantaneously but can take a few minutes to propagate.
As turning off basic mobile management will deprive you of the ability to wipe work accounts, and remove compromised device protection, I would recommend you try Option B as the first resort, and keep Option A as a back up alternative.
Option B : Disable Password Requirements Recommended!
By default, your account is set to Require users to set a password, which has a basic requirement of “Any screenlock“.
Step 6B :Untick the Require users to set a password checkbox.
Step 7B : Click on Save to save the changes. The change generally happens instantaneously but can take a few minutes to propagate.
I personally recommend using this option, as it would leave you the ability to perform some basic mobile management of your devices.
Step 8 : While the change happens within seconds to minutes, you must remove your Google Account from your Android TV / Android TV box.
Step 9 : Log into Google Play Store using your Google Account again. It should now work properly, without asking you to register a Lock Screen.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
A former top ByteDance executive is alleging that the China has backdoor access to all TikTok data!
Former Exec : China Has Backdoor Access To TikTok Data!
A former top executive at ByteDance – TikTok’s parent company, has just claimed that it built a “backdoor channel” in its code to allow the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) supreme access to user data in TikTok.
This revelation came as part of the lawsuit that Roger Yu Yintao, filed against ByteDance for wrongful termination from his job as head of engineering in the United States. He says he worked there from August 2017 till November 2018.
In his lawsuit filed on May 12 at the San Francisco Superior Court, Roger Yu alleges that he was fired from his job for his “observation and reporting of illegal conduct” at ByteDance to his supervisors.
He said he observed ByteDance being “responsive to the CCP’s requests” to share, elevate, or even remove content”, describing the company as “a useful propaganda tool for the Chinese Communist Party”, and is engaged in a “culture of lawlessness”.
More shockingly, he claimed that the CCP has a special office in ByteDance, sometimes referred to as the “Committee”. Its task was allegedly to monitor ByteDance, and advise it on how to advance “core Communist values”.
He also claimed that the CCP “Committee” can demote content it viewed as unfavourable to China’s interests, and even has a “death switch” to turn off Chinese versions of its apps.
Roger Yu also claimed that he “saw the backdoor channel in the code”. If true, such a backdoor would give China and the CCP government unfettered access to all data in TikTok, no matter where the data is located.
The Committee maintained supreme access to all the company data, even data stored in the United States.
Roger Yu Yintao (left) and ByteDance founder, Zhang Yiming, at ByteDance, 2015
Allegedly, ByteDance was “aware that if the Chinese government’s backdoor was removed from the international / US version of the app, the Chinese government would, it feared, ban the company’s valuable Chinese-version apps”.
Roger Yu also accused ByteDance of scraping data from its competitors – mainly Instagram and Snapchat, without users’ permission. He claimed that ByteDance used software to “systematically” collect videos from its competitors, and repost them to its own platform using fake accounts, without their creators’ permission.
ByteDance Denies Allegations Of Backdoor Access For China
A ByteDance spokesperson has denied the allegations laid out in Roger Yu Jintao’s lawsuit, claiming that he only worked for a short time on an unrelated app called Flipagram, which was discontinued for business reasons.
We plan to vigorously oppose what we believe are baseless claims and allegations in this complaint.
Mr. Yu worked for ByteDance Inc. for less than a year and his employment ended in July 2018.
According to earlier reporting of Roger Yu Yintao’s lawsuit, he realised that ByteDance had been engaged for years in a “worldwide scheme” to steal and profit from content created on other platforms soon after he began his job.
In response to those allegations, the ByteDance spokesperson said that the company is “committed to respecting the intellectual property of other companies, and we acquire data in accordance with industry practices and our global policy.”
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
One of China’s most popular apps – Pinduoduo apparently contains a malware that monitors user activities and is difficult to remove!
Take a look at what CNN and multiple cybersecurity researchers have discovered about Pinduoduo!
Pinduoduo : What Is It?
Pinduoduo is actually a Chinese online retailer. Think of it as China’s Amazon. While Amazon started as an online bookstore, Pinduoduo started as an online agricultural retailer.
Since then, Pinduoduo has become one of China’s most popular online shopping platform, with its app offering its 750 million users access to cheap products in China, by offering steep discounts on group buying orders.
Despite its meteoric rise, Pinduoduo has not been without its controversies. In 2018, the company was criticised for hosting inferior and imitation products, to which it responded by taking down more than 4 million listing and shutting down 1,128 stores.
In 2019, Pinduoduo was hit by hackers who stole discount coupons worth tens of millions of Yuan. And just last month, Google suspended the Pinduoduo app after discovering that versions offered outside its Play Store contained malware.
The Off-Play versions of the e-commerce app that have been found to contain malware have been enforced on via Google Play Protect.
Western interest may have been initiated by Google suspending the Pinduoduo app, but cybersecurity experts had already started looking into the app, and what they discovered was very troubling.
Alert First Raised By Chinese Cybersecurity Company
I think we should start by noting that it was a Chinese cybersecurity company called Dark Navy that first raised concerns about malware in the Pinduoduo app in February 2023.
Although Dark Navy did not name Pinduoduo in its report, cybersecurity researchers knew who it was referring to and soon followed up with their own investigations and reports, confirming Dark Navy’s report.
Sophisticated Malware
Half a dozen cybersecurity teams from Asia, Europe and the United States identified sophisticated malware in the Pinduoduo app that were designed to exploit vulnerabilities in the Android operating system used by many smartphones.
The malware allows the Pinduoduo app to bypass Android security features to monitor activities in other apps, check notifications, read private messages, and even change settings. It is also difficult to remove once installed.
Mikko Hyppönen, chief research officer at WithSecure, a Finnish cybersecurity firm, said that:
We haven’t seen a mainstream app like this trying to escalate their privileges to gain access to things that they’re not supposed to gain access to. This is highly unusual, and it is pretty damning for Pinduoduo.
Dedicated Hacking Team To Look For Vulnerabilities
Even more damning, CNN reported that a current employee revealed that Pinduoduo set up a team of about 100 engineers and product managers to look for vulnerabilities in Android smartphones, and find ways to exploit them for profit.
To avoid exposure, the source said that the company targeted users in rural areas and smaller towns, and avoided users in megacities like Beijing and Shanghai.
By collecting expansive data on those users, Pinduoduo was able to create a comprehensive portrait of their habits, interests, and preferences; while improving its machine learning models to personalise push notifications and ads.
Pinduoduo App Gained More Access Than Allowed
Three cybersecurity companies – WithSecure, Check Point Research, and Oversecured conducted independent analysis of version 6.49.0 of the Pinduoduo app that was released in late February 2023, and found code designed to achieve “privilege escalation” – a type of cyberattack that exploits vulnerabilities in the operating system to gain a higher level of access to data that it’s supposed to have.
Our team has reverse engineered that code and we can confirm that it tries to escalate rights, tries to gain access to things normal apps wouldn’t be able to do on Android phones.
The Pinduoduo app was able to continue running in the background, and prevent itself from being uninstalled. This was apparently done to boost the platform’s statistic for monthly active users.
Pinduoduo App Has Access To User Data Without Consent
Delware-based app security start-up, Oversecured, found that the Pinduoduo app had access to user data like locations, contacts, calendars, notifications, and photo albums, without their consent.
The app was also able to change system settings, and access user social media accounts and chats.
The Pinduoduo app also had the ability to snoop on competing shopping apps, by tracking activity on other shopping apps, and gathering information from them.
Pinduoduo App Able To Secretly Receive Updates
Check Point Research found that Pinduoduo was able to push updates to the app, without first going through an app store review process to detect malicious code.
Pinduoduo App Programmers Attempted To Obscure Malicious Code
Check Point Research also found that some plug-ins used by the Pinduoduo app tried to obscure potentially malicious code by hiding them under legitimate file names, such as Google’s.
Such a technique is widely used by malware developers that inject malicious code into applications that have legitimate functionality.
Pinduoduo Targeted Android Devices
According to Sergey Toshin, founder of Oversecured, Pinduoduo’s malware specifically targeted Android operating systems used by Samsung, HUAWEI, Xiaomi and OPPO.
He also described the app as “the most dangerous malware” ever found in mainstream apps, exploiting about 50 Android system vulnerabilities. Most of these exploits targeted customised OEM code used by smartphone brands to customise their smartphone software.
I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s like, super expansive.
After cybersecurity researchers started reporting about the app, Pinduoduo released version 6.50.0 on March 5, which removed the exploits they found. Two days later, Pinduoduo disbanded its Android hacking team, according to the same employee.
The hacking team members found themselves locked out of Pinduoduo’s workspace communication app, called Knock, and lost access to files on the company’s internal network, with their privileges revoked.
Most of the team was later transferred to work at Pinduoduo’s sister app, Temu. A core group of about 20 cybersecurity engineers however remain at Pinduoduo.
In addition, Sergey Toshin of Oversecured noted that while the exploits were removed in the new version of Pinduoduo, the underlying code remained and could be reactivated to carry out attacks.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is offering a 60% discount programme on selected traffic offences!
Find out how you can pay for your traffic offences with up to 60% discount!
PDRM Offers Up To 60% Discount For Traffic Offences!
On 19 March 2023, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) announced that it is offering up to 60% discount on selected traffic offences, in conjunction with the 216th Police Day!
From Monday, 20 March until Friday, 31 March 2023, you will be able to pay for your traffic offence fines with up to 60% discount either at all police district or contingent headquarters, or online using its MyBayar Saman app or website.
The PDRM launched MyBayar Saman as an alternative payment option, instead of paying over-the-counter, or using private collecting agents like MyEG.
This would also save the public money as MyBayar Saman is FREE, and does not collect service charges. They can also pay their fines at their convenience, without wasting time queuing to pay.
The discounts being offered do NOT apply to all traffic offences. Here is a list of traffic offences that will not be reduced under this programme :
Causing accidents
Summon for court hearing
Summon with a warrant status
Offences involving heavy vehicles
Overtaking another vehicle dangerously
Driving on the emergency lane
Non-compoundable offences
Not obeying traffic lights
Overtaking across double lines
Modification of vehicle exhausts
Op Selamat summonses
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
You may have seen celebrities endorsements of BitiCodes or Biti Codes circulating on Facebook and Instagram, but they are all FAKE.
Find out why there are so many fake celebrity endorsements of Biticodes / Biti Codes, and how they are doing it!
BitiCodes / Biti Codes : Fake Celebrity Endorsements
BitiCodes or Biti Codes claims to be “the crypto industry’s most accurate AI auto-trading app“, which “works by automatically placing trades… using trading bots to strengthen your chances of making a profitable trade.”
If you never heard of it, you won’t be alone, because it’s mainly promoted via advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, etc. They are also promoting it through Google Ads like these examples, which will often appear in completely legitimate websites.
Clicking on those advertisements will lead to legitimate-looking articles from local or crypto publications, often with a celebrity endorsing Biticodes / Biti Codes.
Here in Malaysia, people will see Biticodes being endorsed by the likes of local politicians like Lim Guan Eng or Dr. Mahathir. But those in the cybersecurity industry will quickly realise that these articles are familiar because they are almost exact copies of scam articles used in the previous Bitcoin Revolution scam.
Looking for reviews of Biticodes or Biti Codes is pointless, because they appeared to have paid for advertorials in legitimate media outlets, which are (intentionally?) wrongly listed as “reviews”. Only at the very bottom do they include a disclaimer that it was a sponsored post.
Outlook India
Biticodes Reviews : Today we’ll be talking about one platform called Biticodes that you can use to make an extra source of income. It’s safe, and you do not need to worry about anything. It may help you earn good money in very less time.
Disclaimer :This is sponsored review content posted by us. All the information about the product is taken from the official website (and not fact-checked by us). Contact customer care phone number given on product’s official website for order cancellation, return, refund, payment, delivery etc. related issues. Must consult any financial specialist before investing in BitiCodes Auto-Trading Software.
Tribune India
Biticodes is real or scam review 2022 : With an astonishing success rate of 90%, BitiCodes has what it takes to be your go-to platform for cryptocurrency trading. It can execute multiple deals per second – a rate that even the most experienced cryptocurrency traders would be hard-pressed to match.
Disclaimer :The views and opinions expressed in the above article are independent professional judgment of the experts and The Tribune does not take any responsibility, in any manner whatsoever, for the accuracy of their views. Biticodes are solely liable for the correctness, reliability of the content and/or compliance of applicable laws. The above is non-editorial content and The Tribune does not vouch, endorse or guarantee any of the above content, nor is it responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified.
In other words, those are NOT legitimate reviews, and the media outlets did not even test Biticodes / Biti Codes. Their disclaimers show that their “reviews” were paid content, written by Biticodes / Biticodes.
Avast Explains How BitiCodes Scam Works
In an August 2022 article, the cybersecurity company explained how the BitiCodes (also known as TeslaCoin) scam works:
The scam encourages people to pay to create an account and invest into a fraudulent crypto investment platform. There are two ways the campaign reaches potential victims: Through Facebook ads and email. Ultimately, victims can end up losing at least $250.
At the bottom of the page is a webform requesting site visitors to enter their name, email address, and phone number in order to register for the platform. The victim receives an email from a bot sparking a conversation in the victim’s language.
After a brief example exchange, the bot sends a link to a payment gateway, and asks the victim to transfer $250 in order to activate their trading account. Another scenario involves the bot emailing potential victims with steps to login to a cryptocurrency broker page, and after a few more emails, the bot sends a link to a payment gateway, asking the victim for a $250 initial investment.
I also investigated the articles and the BitiCodes website, and noticed that they are all using highly-suspicious domains and links:
celesteal.xyz/biticodes for the BitiCodes website (registered 23 Nov. 2022)
thedailypressbriefing.com/my for the BTC-News website (registered 29 Jan. 2023)
saveontaxesthisyear.tax for the BTC-News website (registered 6 Feb. 2023)
As you can see, the domains are not only completely unrelated to the article / websites, they are almost brand new! And if you go to their domain root, nothing loads. That is not how legitimate websites function. If you do a WHOIS lookup, you will discover that the owners of these domains are hidden.
Regardless of whether BitiCodes / Biti Codes itself is legitimate, you should avoid any article that do not tally with the official website, or with irrelevant domains.
Don’t fall for the scam. Avoid these BitiCodes / Biti Codes advertisements and fake celebrity endorsements.
Please help us fight fake news – SHARE this article, and SUPPORT our work!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke addresses the frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the new digital road tax and driving licence initiatives!
Malaysia Adopts Digital Road Tax + Driving Licence!
On Friday, 10 February 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced the adoption of both a digital road tax (motor vehicle licence), as well as a digital driving licence!
The first phase of this digital transformation initiative will involve private vehicles owned by Malaysian citizens, and certain groups of motorists.
Instead of physical road tax stickers, or physical driving licences, Malaysian citizens can now make use of digital versions using the new MyJPJ mobile app, or through the JPJ online portal.
This move is part of the broader digitalisation plan for JPJ, which should provide a smoother and faster service to the people.
Malaysia Digital Road Tax + Driving Licence FAQ!
Almost immediately after the announcement, Malaysian netizens had a ton of questions and criticisms about the new digital transformation of the road tax and driving licence.
So Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke addressed the frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the new digital road tax and driving licence initiatives!
For the convenience of those who prefer to read the questions and answers in English, here is my translation of his original FAQ in Bahasa Malaysia.
Is it mandatory to download “MyJPJ” apps?
No. This is just one of the options to obtain the digital copy of the road tax, and driving licence.
Is it mandatory to download the “MyJPJ” app?
No. This is just one of the options to obtain the digital copy of the road tax, and driving licence.
If I cannot download the MyJPJ app and cannot show my digital road tax, will I be fined?
No. The enforcement agencies can confirm the status of your road tax and driving licence through the system in the enforcement gadget.
Do we still have to pay for the road tax and driving licence after their validity period ends?
Yes, you still need to pay. Only the [road tax] sticker does not need to be attached.
What happens if senior citizens do not smartphones, or in areas with no Internet access?
Don’t worry, the digital format is not mandatory. You can still obtain the road tax sticker and physical driving licence from JPJ, if required.
You can also use the Print Screen feature on your smartphone to get a copy of your digital road tax, or digital driving licence. Finally, you can also print your digital road tax, or digital driving licence.
How do we show the digital road tax if the car does not belong to the driver?
That’s easy. The digital road tax can be printed and stored in the car. The owner can also share a print screen of the digital road tax with the driver.
In any case, it is not an offence if you cannot show the road tax. The enforcement agencies can check the details in their gadgets.
Why can’t I log into MyJPJ since this morning?
As with any new system, many people are naturally trying to register at the same time. There is very high traffic.
Can we still use the road tax sticker and driving licence card?
Yes, you can still the physical road tax sticker and driving licence. Motorists are offered the option to go digital, or use the physical road tax stickers and driving licence cards.
JPJ and police enforcement officers will be given a smartphone gadget with access to the SmED system. They will use the SmED system to check details of the driver and/or vehicle, using:
car plate number
MyKad number
How long will this interim digitalisation time frame last?
The Transport Ministry will give motorists until the end of 2023 at the very minimum, to register and try out the new digital road tax and digital driving licence.
During this interim period, the digital road tax and digital driving licence are still optional.
How long will this digitalisation process save government money and benefit the people?
The government will save on printing the road tax stickers and physical driving licences. This initiative is expected to save JPJ about RM 96 million a year, and the money saved will be used internally to further develop and upgrade the MyJPJ mobile app.
The public will save money, avoid queuing at JPJ branches, avoid paying third party service providers (like MyEG) or payment gateways, or paying for the delivery of their road tax stickers.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia has officially adopted the digital driving licence (e-LLM) for private vehicles owned by Malaysian citizens!
Malaysia Adopts Digital Driving Licence In MyJPJ App!
On Friday, 10 February 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that, effective immediately, Malaysian citizens no longer need to use a physical driving licence (Lesen Memandu Malaysia, or LLM for short).
Effective 10 February 2023, Malaysian citizens can sign up for their e-LLM digital driving licence through the MyJPJ mobile app, which is available in:
Here are two screenshots of the MyJPJ mobile app, showing the digital driving licence and whether it is still valid, or has expired.
In addition to a digital example of the typical physical card, it has a QR code for enforcement officers to verify. So claims by some netizens that this can be easily photoshopped is nonsensical.
Please note that the e-LLM digital driving licences are optional. You can continue to use your physical driving licence. This is merely a new way that gives you access to a digital copy of your driving licence, and your road tax.
This move is part of the broader digitalisation plan for JPJ, which should provide a smoother and faster service to the people.
I welcome all drivers and vehicle owners to transition to the digital platform. With this, the congestion and long lines at JPJ counters will be reduced.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
Alternatively, motorists can use the JPJ mySIKAP portal to obtain their e-LLM digital driving licence, which can be printed. A screenshot can also be taken of the e-LLM driving licence to be shown to enforcement officers.
However, it is not an offence if you cannot show enforcement officers your digital driving licence. Police and JPJ enforcers can use their own devices to check your driving licence.
Finally, JPJ will continue to offer the physical driving licence to motorists who still prefer it, or need one to drive overseas. These physical cards will be available at JPJ branches.
The alternative methods of using a screenshot and/or printed certificate are useful for drivers who are not tech-savvy. They can get their family members to help them register and print their digital driving licence.
And of course, physical driving licences are still available for those who prefer the “old school” ways, or need them to drive overseas.
Physical Driving Licence Still Required For Some Motorists
Please note that the move to a digital driving licence is currently limited to selected Malaysian citizens. Holders of these driving licences must continue to bring their physical cards.
Learner’s Driving Licence (LDL)
Vocational Driving Licence (PSV / GDL / KON)
Malaysia Driving Licence for Foreigners
Foreign Driving Licence (IDP)
Loke said that enforcement action will continue, and the police and JPJ enforcers will use their own devices to check on the driver’s road tax status.
I want to stress that enforcement action will continue to be taken against anyone found driving a vehicle without a valid motor vehicle or driving licence, in line with the Road Transport Act.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
e-LLM Digital Driving Licence Initiative : Good Or Bad?
While some people are already complaining about the hassle of opening a mobile app, or printing a physical copy, the move to digitising the driving licence is inevitable.
Digitising the driving licence would mean you can now renew it online, or through the MyJPJ app, saving you time and the hassle of going to a JPJ branch or post office. You can now renew your driving licence from the comfort of your own home / office, at any time of the day!
Moving to a digital driving licence also means you no longer have to worry about losing your physical licence, or paying for a replacement! All that is not only history with the digital driving licence, you can actually print multiple copies!
As for claims that anyone with Photoshop can create their own digital driving licence, any police or JPJ enforcement officer can easily verify if your driving licence is legitimate by checking the JPJ database. That’s why there is now a QR code.
In fact, the digitisation of driving licences will make it easier for enforcement officers. They don’t even need to check your MyJPJ app. They can simply use their own devices to quickly determine if you have a valid driving licence, even if you forgot to bring yours!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Malaysia has officially adopted the digital motor vehicle licence (e-LKM), removing the need for physical road tax stickers on vehicle windshields!
Malaysia Adopts Digital Road Tax : Windshield Sticker Not Required!
On Friday, 10 February 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that, effective immediately, private vehicles owned by Malaysian citizens no longer need to display their motor vehicle licence (Lesen Kenderaan Motor, or LKM for short), which is colloquially known as the “road tax”.
Effective 10 February 2023, the Malaysia Transport Ministry will no longer enforce Section 20 of the Road Transport Act, which states that motor vehicle licences must be fixed to, and exhibited, on all vehicles.
Any summons issued for not displaying the road tax sticker will be classified as “No Further Action”.
In line with this initiative, the provision under Section 20 of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) where “each vehicle registration licence must be affixed and displayed on the relevant vehicle will no longer be enforced for the category of owners under the first phase.
This exemption will be gazetted under the authority given to the Minister of Transport under Section 127(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
This initiative will be implemented in stages, with the first phase involving individual private vehicles, including motorcycles, owned by Malaysians.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
During this first phase, other vehicles must still display their road tax / motor vehicle licences, including:
private vehicles owned by private companies
private vehicles owned by foreigners
commercial vehicles
public service vehicles
This move is part of the broader digitalisation plan for JPJ, which should provide a smoother and faster service to the people.
I welcome all drivers and vehicle owners to transition to the digital platform. With this, the congestion and long lines at JPJ counters will be reduced.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
Please note that the e-LKM digital road tax is optional. You can continue to use your physical road tax sticker. This is merely a new way that gives you access to a digital copy of your driving licence, and your road tax.
Private Vehicle Road Tax Now Available Through MyJPJ App!
Please note that this does not mean the road tax has been abolished. You still need to pay for the road tax. It is merely the physical motor vehicle licence that has been abolished.
But do not think you don’t have to pay for your Road Tax anymore. You still have to pay for it
I want to stress that enforcement action will continue to be taken against anyone found driving a vehicle without a valid motor vehicle or driving licence, in line with the Road Transport Act.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke
Instead of physical road tax stickers, motorists will now obtain their digital road tax certificates (e-LKM) through the MyJPJ mobile app, which is available in:
Motorists can also use the app to show enforcement officers their e-LKM digital road tax certificates. However, this is not necessary.
Loke said that it is not an offence if you cannot show enforcement officers your digital road tax certificate. On top of that, the police and JPJ enforcers can use their own devices to check on the vehicle’s road tax status.
Alternatively, motorists can use the JPJ mySIKAP portal to obtain their e-LKM digital road tax certificates, which can be printed. A screenshot can also be taken of the e-LKM to be shown to enforcement officers.
Finally, JPJ will continue to offer the printed sticker to motorists who still prefer to install it on their cars. These printed stickers will be available at JPJ branches.
The alternative methods of using a screenshot and/or printed certificate are useful if the driver is not the actual owner of the car. And of course, the physical road tax stickers are still available for those who prefer the “old school” ways.
e-LKM Digital Road Tax Initiative : Good Or Bad?
While some people are already complaining about the hassle of opening a mobile app, or printing a physical copy, the move to digitising the motor vehicle licence / road tax is inevitable.
Digitising the motor vehicle licence would mean you can now renew it online, or through the MyJPJ app, saving you time and the hassle of going to a JPJ branch and queuing up.
Even if you have to print a physical copy, it is still cheaper than paying for MYEG delivery of the road tax, or actually spending your time and money to get the sticker.
And did you forget what a chore it was to install the road tax sticker every year? We all had to very carefully peel the sticker the right way, or risk tearing it!
All that will be history now that we are moving to digital certificates that we can retrieve online, from the MyJPJ app, or print anytime we want, from the comfort of our own home / office!
As for the claim that the digital motor vehicle certificate will make it easier for people to steal cars – that’s just absurd. People have been stealing vehicles even with a physical road tax sticker. Moving to a digital certificate won’t make it easier for thieves to steal your vehicle!
In fact, now that the road taxes / motor vehicle licences are digitised, it will be easier for enforcement officers as they can now check your vehicle’s validity using their own devices. They no longer need to peek at your road tax sticker.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Twitter has “sort of” recovered after going down for many hours on Wednesday night / Thursday morning!
Twitter Sort Of Recovers After Going Down For Hours!
At around 7:30 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 2022 (8:30 AM MYT on Thursday morning), Twitter went down.
Users reported all sorts of problems – from the Twitter app and website showing a blank screen, or reporting “exceeded rate limit” errors, or getting logged out automatically. Most got this generic error message :
Error : Something went wrong, but don’t fret – it’s not your fault. Let’s try again.
It was roughly three hours later when Twitter started to recover, albeit in fits and starts. Many users were able to log in again, but continue to report seeing their tweets “disappear”, or that Twitter wouldn’t load any tweets.
Full access was restored for me at around 12:15 PM MYT (11:15 AM ET) – just under 4 hours after Twitter went down.
Twitter Going Down : Surprise It Didn’t Happen Sooner…
It’s really a wonder that Twitter didn’t go down earlier, after its new owner, Elon Musk, fired many of its technical staff – people who were paid to keep the service running.
Despite predictions that Twitter would go down during World Cup 2022, it surprisingly stayed up and kept up with the deluge of tweets.
Twitter also surprisingly managed to “sort of” restore access during its latest downtime. Even so – this down time will surely reignite criticisms of Elon Musk’s decision to gut Twitter’s technical teams.
The Twitter Support account is now up, but has not commented on the issue. And since Elon Musk has reportedly disbanded its press office, an official statement will probably come as a tweet from the Big Boss himself.
Elon has not commented on Twitter’s downtime, with his last tweet over 8 hours ago. He may own Twitter and have “god-like” powers, but even he cannot tweet when it goes down.
Perhaps he should consider reactivating the official Twitter account on Facebook, as a backup for such instances…
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung just introduced a new Fun Mode for Galaxy A series smartphones!
Take a look at the new Fun Mode, and give it a try!
Samsung Galaxy A Series Gets New Fun Mode!
Samsung is introducing a new Fun Mode in the proprietary camera app of their Galaxy A series smartphones, which adds Snapchat’s AR Lenses!
Samsung Galaxy A series smartphone users will be able to use Fun Mode to add playful, quirky lenses to their photos, turning them into fun and unique content to share with friends, or upload to social media!
Fun Mode is powered by Snap’s Camera Kit, allowing businesses and developers to bring the power of Snap’s augmented reality into their own applications.
Galaxy users are constantly seeking new ways to express their creativity. Samsung is constantly innovating to empower users to do more of what they love.
That is why we continue to grow our partnership with Snap, one of the biggest and most creative augmented reality platforms, so we can explore further improvements and bring one of the best camera experiences to more users.
– Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of Experience Planning Team at Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics
Samsung and Snap have been working to offer users around the world more engaging and localized experiences. In 2021, they launched region-specific AR Lenses in India, and since then have expanded to other countries including Germany, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, and Mexico.
Lenses are the way over 250 million Snapchatters engage with augmented reality every day, and we’re thrilled that these experiences delight and resonate with Samsung Galaxy’s community.
Integrating the Camera Kit into Samsung Galaxy’s proprietary camera is an opportunity to collaborate on compelling, local AR experiences and bring them to Galaxy users around the world.
– Ben Schwerin, SVP of Content and Partnerships at Snap.
To make use of Fun Mode, just update the Camera app in your Samsung Galaxy A series smartphone!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Maybank will only allow new Secure2u activations on their MAE app, instead of their Maybank2u app!
Maybank : New Secure2u Activations Only On MAE App
From 26 September 2022 onwards, Maybank will only allow new Secure2u activations on their MAE e-wallet app, instead of their Maybank2u banking app.
Secure2u is a mobile app-based authentication method for your banking transactions, which replaces the SMS TAC that is vulnerable to SIM swap attacks.
This change only affects new Secure2u activations. If you have already activated Secure2u on your Maybank2u banking app, then you can continue to use the Maybank2u app to approve your transactions as usual.
Maybank will also move two Amanah Saham National Berhad (ASNB) services from the Maybank2u app to the MAE app permanently, starting 7 October 2022.
View own and child’s account balance(s)
Make transfers to own account(s) via Favourites
This shifting of features is part of Maybank’s push to “encourage” its customers to switch to their MAE e-wallet app, and it plans to phase out the Maybank2u app eventually.
By moving customers to MAE, Maybank is hoping that they might start using its e-wallet feature, as well as reduce its need to develop and maintain two separate mobile apps.
12-Hour Activation Delay For Secure2u In MAE
To further strengthen the appeal of the MAE app, Maybank is going to boost the security of its Secure2u feature.
Starting on 22 October 2022, the Secure2u feature in the MAE app will be enhanced with a 12-hour activation period to prevent unauthorised activations.
Those who activate Secure2u in MAE on a new device will need to wait at least 12 hours, before they can begin using the Secure2u feature to authenticate any transaction.
The idea is to give the account owner at least 12 hours to detect any potential fraudulent attempt to activate Secure2u on unauthorised devices.
How To Set Up Secure2u In MAE
Setting up Secure2u in the MAE app is straightforward :
Install the MAE app from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or HUAWEI AppGallery.
Launch the MAE app, and tap More.
Tap on Settings at the top of the screen.
Tap on Maybank2u and log into your Maybank account.
Tap the toggle button next to Secure2u to enable it.
Tap on Activate Now.
Key in and confirm your mobile number.
Maybank will send a One-Time Password (OTP) to you via SMS.
Key in the OTP number and confirm your device name to authorise the change.
That’s it! Then you just need to use your MAE app (instead of SMS TAC) to authenticate your future banking transactions on Maybank.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr just publicly asked Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores!
Here is what you need to know about the renewed heat on TikTok!
FCC Commissioner Asks Apple + Google To Remove TikTok!
On June 29, 2022, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr publicly called on Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores.
This move came after leaked TikTok audio recordings obtained by Buzzfeed News revealed that ByteDance staff in China (and possibly the Chinese government) retained extensive access to data on US citizens.
In his public letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, the FCC Commissioner asked that TikTok be removed for “its pattern of surreptitious data practices”.
It is clear that TikTok poses an unacceptable national security risk due to its extensive data harvesting being combined with Beijing’s apparently unchecked access to that sensitive data.
But it is also clear that TikTok’s pattern of conduct and misrepresentations regarding the unfettered access that persons in Beijing have to sensitive U.S. user data – just some of which is detailed below – puts it out of compliance with the policies that both of your companies require every app to adhere to as a condition of remaining available on your app stores.
Therefore, I am requesting that you apply the plain text of your app store policies to TikTok and remove it from your app stores for failure to abide by those terms.
FCC Commissioner Carr also labelled TikTok as a “sophisticated surveillance tool” that is designed to harvest “personal and sensitive data“.
At its core, TikTok functions as a sophisticated surveillance tool that harvests extensive amounts of personal and sensitive data.
Indeed, TikTok collects everything from search and browsing histories to keystroke patterns and biometric identifiers, including faceprints – which researchers have said might be used in unrelated facial recognition technology – and voiceprints.
It collects location data as well as draft messages and metadata, plus it has collected the text, images, and videos that are stored on a device’s clipboard. The list of personal and sensitive data it collects goes on from there.
This should come as no surprise, however. Within its own borders, the PRC has developed some of the most invasive and omnipresent surveillance capabilities in the world to maintain authoritarian control.
Carr ended his letter with an “ultimatum” of sorts – if Apple and Google do not remove TikTok from their app stores, they need to provide “separate responses” to him by July 8, 2022, explaining why TikTok does not contravene their App Store policies.
As of June 30, 2022, TikTok is still available to download in the US app stores of both Apple and Google.
If Apple and Google acts on the FCC Commissioner’s request, TikTok will only be removed from their US app stores. It won’t affect downloads in other countries.
Neither would it prevent users in the US from continuing to use TikTok. They just won’t be able to download it any longer, or update to newer versions.
FCC Commissioner Lists History Of TikTok Data Practices!
While the leaked TikTok audio recordings may have precipitated this open letter to Apple and Google, FCC Commissioner Carr pointed to a list of questionable data practices by TikTok in the past.
The list makes for really interesting reading, especially for those who are not up to date on TikTok’s privacy and data security issues :
In August 2020, TikTok circumvented a privacy safeguard in Google’s Android operating system to obtain data that allowed it to track users online.
In March 2020, researchers discovered that TikTok, through its app in the Apple App Store, was accessing users’ most sensitive data, including passwords, cryptocurrency wallet addresses, and personal messages.
In 2021, TikTok agreed to pay $92 million to settle lawsuits alleging that the app “clandestinely vacuumed up and transferred to servers in China (and to other servers accessible from within China) vast quantities of private and personally identifiable user data and content that could be employed to identify, profile, and track the physical and digital location and activities of United States users now and in the future.”
In March 2022, a report included current and former TikTok employees stating in interviews that TikTok delegates key decisions to ByteDance officials in Beijing and that an employee was asked to enter sensitive information into a.cn domain, which is the top-level domain operated by the Chinese government’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Earlier, in 2019, TikTok paid $5.7 million to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that its predecessor app illegally collected personal data on children under the age of 13.
India- the world’s largest democracy–has already banned TikTok on national security grounds for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting user data in an unauthorized manner.
Multiple U.S. military branches have also banned TikTok from government-issued devices due to national security risks, including the Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps.
U.S. government officials have also urged troops and their dependents to erase the app from their personal phones.
U.S. national security agencies have similarly banned TikTok from official devices citing national security risks, including the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the TSA.
The RNC and DNC have warned campaigns about using TikTok based on security concerns and the threat of officials in Beijing accessing sensitive data.
Citing data security concerns, private U.S. business operations have also banned TikTok from company devices, including Wells Fargo.
Once accessed by personnel in Beijing, there is no check on the CCP using the extensive, private, and sensitive data about U.S. users for espionage activities because compliance with the PC’s 2017 National Intelligence law is mandatory in China.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
However, Malaysians are also too gullible, accepting all warnings on WhatsApp as genuine, without first verifying if they are even true.
Here are the reasons why the MySejahtera reset messages delivered by the 68808 SMS service are not necessarily a scam!
Fact #1 : 68808 Is Used By MySejahtera
Despite what people may tell you – 68808 is an official SMS service number used by MySejahtera.
In fact, MySejahtera uses three SMS service numbers to send you notifications (like your vaccination appointments), as well as your password renewal link :
68808 68088 63001
Fact #2 : 68808 Messages Are Generally Legitimate
Despite what is shared on social media, messages sent through 68808 are genuine. What you need to be wary of are SMS messages sent via other numbers.
Take a look at this example of fake news shared on social media, and some websites. It was touted as an example of fake MySejahtera messages sent by 68808.
The truth is “original” message was sent through 63839, which is not a legitimate MySejahtera SMS service. The “fake” message was sent through 68808, which is a legitimate MySejahtera SMS service.
In this misleading example, you can also see a prior SMS message on vehicle servicing in the 63839 channel. Official MySejahtera SMS channels (68808, 68088 and 63001) will only show messages from MySejahtera, not other services.
Note : The links in both messages appear to be genuine, linking to https://mysejahtera.malaysia.gov.my/.
Fact #3 : MySejahtera Sends Reset Links Via SMS
Despite what social media “experts” may tell you – MySejahtera will send password reset links through SMS, as a verification method.
If you are trying to reset your MySejahtera password (because you forgot it), you will be sent an SMS message with a link to https://mysejahtera.malaysia.gov.my/, as the example above shows.
Fact #4 : SMS Messages Can Be Spoofed
That said, SMS messages can be spoofed to appear to come from the three legitimate MySejahtera channels – 68808, 68088 and 63001.
So you should avoid clicking on MySejahtera password reset links, even from legitimate channels, unless you have specifically asked to reset the MySejahtera password.
Fact #5 : MySejahtera Team Clarified This In April
The MySejahtera team actually refuted these false claims in April 2022. Unfortunately, people still continue to share this fake news.
So please help us fight fake news – share this fact check with your family and friends!
How To Avoid MySejahtera (Or Other) SMS Scam!
So here is what I recommend when it comes to SMS messages, whether they were sent by MySejahtera, banks, etc. :
Always check to make sure they come from legitimate SMS channels. For MySejahtera, that’s 68808, 68088 and 63001.
If you are not sure about an SMS message from the authorities / banks / telcos, please do not hesitate to call them to verify the authenticity of that message.
Never click on a link to log into a website (like your bank). Always use your banking app, or log in manually using a Internet browser on your computer or phone.
Only click on a link in specific circumstances that do not require a login – for example : to verify your request to reset your MySejahtera password.
Do NOT click on any link to confirm that you are resetting a password, or confirm your new SIM card, unless you just requested to performed those actions.
Before you click on a link, always check the link goes to the official website (like https://mysejahtera.malaysia.gov.my/). Never click on a link that goes to suspicious websites.
I hope this article helps you differentiate between fake claims circulating on social media and WhatsApp groups, and proper cybersecurity measures we should take to prevent being scammed of our hard-earned money!
Please help to SHARE this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work! Thank you!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Find out how to register your overseas vaccination in MySejahtera, to get your digital COVID-19 certificate!
Why Get MySejahtera Digital Certificate For Overseas Vaccination?
Everyone who gets vaccinated in Malaysia receives a MySejahtera digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate, as well as a physical vaccination card.
They are both accepted as proof of your vaccination, but the digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate is definitely much more convenient to use.
You can still use your physical vaccination card, but you will still need to show your MySejahtera profile for them to verify your identity. So it’s not as convenient.
How To Register Overseas Vaccination In MySejahtera!
If you were vaccinated overseas, you are in a pickle because you will not have a MySejahtera digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
Neither can you use your foreign physical vaccination card, as they are not recognised in Malaysia.
Earlier, you were required to submit your documents to the nearest district health office (PKD), but JKJAV also introduced the ability to register your overseas vaccination online!
So here are the steps on how to do register your overseas vaccination in the MySejahtera app or the MySejahtera website!
Open the MySejahtera app, and click Close on the default check-in page.
Alternatively, open the MySejahtera Helpdesk on your web browser, and go to Step 3.
Select the MySejahtera Helpdesk option in the main screen.
Select the option called I have received my vaccination overseas and would like to obtain my digital vaccination certificate in MySejahtera.
Note : This was originally the N option, then became the M option, before finally becoming the current L option. So just ignore the alphabet.
Choose to either apply for yourself, or for your dependent.
If you need to apply for yourself and your dependent, you will need to repeat this process.
Select your MySejahtera user ID – whether it’s your mobile number, or your email address.
Then key in the relevant information, including the email address at which they should write to you.
Key in your telephone number and email address.
Select whether you had the first dose only, the second dose only, or both doses.
You will be asked to fill in your vaccination details.
Finally, you will need to ppload a picture of your foreign vaccination card or document.
But if you prefer, you can still submit your foreign vaccination certificate / card / document to the nearest District Health Office (PKD).
Once verified, your overseas vaccination details will be submitted to the MySejahtera team, and you will be issued a digital COVID-19 certificate.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Here is our UPDATED video + pictorial guide on how to ENABLE and DISABLE MySJ Trace in MySejahtera!
Updated @ 2022-01-24 : Added a solution for MySJ Trace not working on Android 12 devices.
Updated @ 2022-01-06 : Added two solutions for people who cannot enable MySJ Trace.
Updated @ 2022-01-02 : Added a new method on disabling MySJ Trace, and a new video guide.
Updated @ 2021-12-30 : Added two methods on disabling MySJ Trace, and a new video guide.
Originally posted @ 2021-12-29
Why Enable MySJ Trace In MySejahtera?
MySJ Trace is a new MySejahtera feature, which allows for more accurate contact tracing, and removes the need to manually check out from locations.
Once enabled, your phone will use Bluetooth to communicate with other phones that have MySJ Trace enabled, to determine the distance and length of contact. This eliminates the need to manually check-out.
The proximity data it collects allows Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) to accurately determine if you are a close contact of a COVID-19 positive person.
Obviously, this feature only works if everyone has MySJ Trace enabled, so please enable it!
Others are worried about the battery life that the persistent Bluetooth connection will consume. As it uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, the power consumption is very low.
Even so, the battery consumption is a valid concern for some users, especially those who are using smartphones with very small or ageing batteries.
However, I highly recommend you try MySJ Trace before turning it off and on like that. From my personal experience, it really uses very little power.
How To Enable + Disable MySJ Trace In MySejahtera!
I created this video to show you how to enable and disable MySJ Trace in MySejahtera.
Note : This is the extended version, which includes the method to permanently disable MySJ Trace.
For those who prefer a step-by-step guide with pictures, please skip to the next section.
How To Enable MySJ Trace In MySejahtera?
MySJ Trace is (currently) NOT mandatory and is an opt-in feature, so you actually have to manually enable it, if you want to participate.
Step 1 : Update to the MySejahtera version that has MySJ Trace.
Step 2 : Open MySejahtera, and you will see a black MySJ Trace section in the default Check-in screen.
Step 3 : Tap on Setup MySJ Trace to begin the setup process.
Step 4 : Tap on the Start button in the initial explainer screen.
Step 5 : Tap the I agree button to consent to give your “interaction information” for the past 14 days to the Malaysia Ministry of Health for “contact tracing purposes”.
Step 6 : In the App Permissions screen, tap on the Allow button.
Step 7 : First, you will be asked to allow MySejahtera to access your smartphone’s location. Tap on While using the app.
Step 8 : Next, you will be asked to allow MySejahtera to detect your location all the time. Tap on Allow all the time.
Step 9 : Now, you will be asked to enable Bluetooth, if it is not already enabled.
Step 10 : Once all necessary permissions have been enabled, just tap on the Close button.
That’s it! You have now activated MySJ Trace in MySejahtera.
What If You Can’t Enable MySJ Trace In MySejahtera?
Quite a few people have reported to us that tapping on the Allow button doesn’t do anything (Step 6). Here are some solutions…
iOS Devices : Manually Turn On Bluetooth
In your iOS device, there are two ways to turn on Bluetooth :
Go to Settings > Bluetooth, and tap on the toggle to turn it on
Pull down the Notification Center, and tap on the Bluetooth icon to turn it on.
After turning on Bluetooth manually, set up MySJ Trace again from Step 3. It should now work.
Android Devices : Manually Turn On Bluetooth + Location
In your Android device, there are two ways to turn on Bluetooth :
Go to Settings > Connections, and tap on the Bluetooth toggle to turn it on
Pull down the notification tray, and tap on the Bluetooth icon to turn it on.
After turning on Bluetooth manually, you should also manually enable Location permission :
Step 1 : Go to Settings > Apps > MySejahtera > Permissions.
Step 2 : Tap on the Location option under the list of Allowed permissions.
Step 3 : Tap on Allow All the time.
After this, set up MySJ Trace again from Step 3. It should now work.
Android 12 Devices : Enable Nearby Devices
MySJ Trace may stop working once your device is upgraded to Android 12.
Here is what you need to do to get MySJ Trace working again with Android 12 devices:
Step 1 : Go to Settings > Apps > MySejahtera > Permissions.
Step 2 : Tap on the Nearby devices option under the list of Not allowed permissions.
MySejahtera does not offer any option to turn off MySJ Trace once you set it up, but if you prefer to turn off MySJ Trace to “protect your privacy“, or to save a little power, there is an easy way to do it.
All you have to do is disable Bluetooth connectivity, and MySJ Trace is immediately disabled. That’s because MySJ Trace relies on Bluetooth to determine your proximity to other users.
You can do that by pulling down the notification tray in your smartphone, and tapping on the active Bluetooth icon to disable it. Alternatively, you can disable it in your device settings.
Once disabled, the MySJ Trace section in the MySejahtera check-in screen will now ask you to setup again. But there is no need to set it up again.
Whenever you want to re-enable MySJ Trace, all you have to do is re-enable Bluetooth, and MySJ Trace will immediately start working again. Essentially, your smartphone’s Bluetooth connectivity now acts as a toggle for MySJ Trace.
Permanently Disable MySJ Trace
For those who want to permanently disable MySJ Trace, without disabling Bluetooth, reinstalling MySejahtera works for both Android and iOS devices. This is the only known solution for iOS devices.
Android devices, on the other hand, have two alternatives – disabling location permission, or clearing app data.
Option A : Disable Location Permission
Here are the steps to disable Location Permission for MySejahtera in your Android device :
Step 1 : Go to Settings > Apps > MySejahtera > Permissions.
Step 2 : Tap on the Location option under the list of Allowed permissions.
Step 3 : Tap on Allow only while using the app or Deny.
That’s it! Once you go out, MySJ Trace will be permanently disabled in MySejahtera.
Credit : I would like to thank Kyle Hudsons for pointing this out to us.
Option B : Clear MySejahtera App Data
Here are the steps to clear the MySejahtera app data in your Android device :
Step 1 : Go to Settings > Apps > MySejahtera > Storage.
Step 2 : Tap on Clear data. You will be warned that this will remove your MySejahtera account information and database.
Please be warned that if you proceed, your MySejahtera account information will be cleared, together with your past contact history.
Your COVID-19 vaccination history and certificate are stored in the cloud and remain safe, but you will need to log into your MySejahtera account again.
So please do NOT proceed unless you remember your MySJ ID and password!
Step 3 : If you are sure, tap on the OK option to clear the MySejahtera data.
Step 4 : Launch MySejahtera, and log into MySejahtera using your MySJ ID (either your mobile number or email address), and your password.
After you log in, you will see that MySJ Trace has been disabled. You will need to setup MySJ Trace (again) to enable it.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
