Millions of Gigabyte motherboards and laptops shipped with a built-in backdoor in its UEFI firmware!
Here is what you need to know about this cybersecurity danger, and what you can do about it!
Gigabyte Motherboards Shipped With Firmware Backdoor!
On 31 May 2023, researchers at the cybersecurity firm Eclypsium revealed that 271 Gigabyte motherboard models have been compromised with UEFI firmware with a built-in backdoor!
Eclypsium’s heuristic detection methods recently began flagging suspicious backdoor-like behaviour in Gigabyte motherboards. When its researchers looked into it, they found that Gigabyte motherboard firmware was executing a Windows native executable during the system start up process. This executable then insecurely downloads and executes additional payloads.
From their analysis, the executable appears to be a legitimate Gigabyte module called WpbtDxe.efi:
it checks to see if the “APP Center Download & Install” feature is enabled
it downloads executable payloads from Gigabyte servers
it has a Gigabyte cryptographic signature
They also found that the downloaded payloads have Gigabyte cryptographic signatures too, which suggest that this firmware backdoor was implemented by Gigabyte itself.
However, Eclypsium researchers discovered that the Gigabyte implementation had a number of problems, which would make it easy for threat actors to abuse the firmware backdoor:
one of its payload download locations lacks SSL (using plain HTTP, instead of the more secure HTTPS), allowing for Machine-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks
remote server certificate validation was not implemented correctly even when the other two HTTPS download locations were used, which allows for MITM attacks
one of its payload download locations is a local network-attacked storage device (NAS), which could allow a threat actor to spoof the location of the NAS to install their own malware
the Gigabyte firmware itself does not verify any cryptographic signatures, or validates the downloaded executables.
In short – millions of Gigabyte motherboards have a cybersecurity vulnerability, due to their firmware which includes an insecure / vulnerable OEM backdoor. As John Loucaides from Eclypsium put it:
If you have one of these machines, you have to worry about the fact that it’s basically grabbing something from the Internet and running it without you being involved, and hasn’t done any of this securely.
The concept of going underneath the end user and taking over their machine doesn’t sit well with most people.
Note : This vulnerability affects all computers using Gigabyte motherboards, including laptops.
Gigabyte Rolls Out New Firmware To Mitigate Backdoor!
After the news blew up inconveniently during Computex 2023, Gigabyte quickly rolled out new beta firmware upgrades for its AMD and Intel motherboards.
According to Gigabyte, the new beta firmware upgrades have “improved security mechanisms” that will “detect and prevent malicious activities during the boot process“. It also appeared to have implemented other changes:
enhanced the signature verification process for fils downloaded from its remote servers
conduct more thorough checks of file integrity to prevent the introduction of malicious code
enabled standard cryptographic verification of remote server certificates
The new firmware has just been released for AMD 600-series motherboards, as well as Intel 500- and 400-series motherboards, but will eventually be introduced for older motherboards. The new firmware will have the description, “Addresses Download Assistant Vulnerabilities Reported by Eclypsium Research“.
As Gigabyte does not intend to remove the backdoor feature, you might want to consider Eclypsium’s advice on how best to reduce the risk of malicious actors taking advantage:
Scan and monitor systems and firmware updates in order to detect affected Gigabyte systems and the backdoor-like tools embedded in firmware. Update systems to the latest validated firmware and software in order to address security issues like this one.
Inspect and disable the “APP Center Download & Install” feature in UEFI/BIOS Setup on Gigabyte systems and set a BIOS password to deter malicious changes.
Administrators can also block the following URLs: – http://mb.download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Swhttp/LiveUpdate4 – https://mb.download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Swhttp/LiveUpdate4 – https://software-nas/Swhttp/LiveUpdate4
For starters, you should definitely download and update your Gigabyte motherboard or laptop with the improved firmware. Then disable APP Center Download & Install in the BIOS.
Let’s hope Gigabyte will be able to quickly issue new and improved firmware to mitigate, if not remove, the backdoor vulnerability for the affected 271 motherboard models, and its future motherboards and laptops. Even so, many users might not be aware of this vulnerability or these updates.
It seems likely that threat actors will have access to this backdoor vulnerability in many Gigabyte motherboards and laptops for years to come. Even Eclypsium’s Loucaides believes so:
I still think this will end up being a fairly pervasive problem on Gigabyte boards for years to come.
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Did the FBI just warn people to avoid using the restaurant menu QR code, because it can hack your phone?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : FBI Says Restaurant QR Code Can Hack Your Phone!
People are sharing a Daily Mail article, or screenshots of it, which claims that the FBI just warned people not to use any restaurant menu QR code because it can allow hackers to steal your data!
Here is an excerpt from the Daily Mail article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Why you should ALWAYS ask for a physical menu: FBI warns hackers are planting fake QR CODES in restaurants that steal your data when you click the link
Scammers are making fake QR codes to place on top of real ones
This is letting them access smartphones and steal personal data
QR codes have become the new default for accessing restaurant menus across the US post-Covid — but scammers are seizing upon the new practice.
The FBI warns thieves are creating fake QR codes and planting them at eateries, retail shops and even parking meters.
Instead of taking you to an online menu or checkout, the links instantly download malware onto your device, stealing your location and personal information
The FBI has urged consumers to look out for typos or misplaced letters in URLs accessed through QR codes and ask restaurants for a physical menu.
Truth : FBI Did Not Say Restaurant QR Code Can Hack Your Phone!
This appears to be a “misunderstanding” of an actual FBI warning about QR codes. Here is what you need to know about the risks of scanning a QR code for a restaurant menu.
Fact #1 : FBI Issued QR Code Warning In January 2022
I could find no reference to a recent QR code warning by the FBI, and oddly enough, The Daily Mail did not provide a source or link to the FBI warning its article was referring to.
The FBI only released one public service announcement (PSA) about QR codes, and that was Alert Number 1-011822-PSA which was released on January 18, 2022.
If that was the source for the Daily Mail article, then it’s more than a year old, and not recent as the article appears to suggest.
Fact #2 : FBI Warned About General QR Code Risk
The FBI advisory was a general warning about the risks of tampered QR codes. Specifically, it warned about cybercriminals tampering with both digital and physical QR codes.
The FBI is issuing this announcement to raise awareness of malicious Quick Response (QR) codes. Cybercriminals are tampering with QR codes to redirect victims to malicious sites that steal login and financial information.
Cybercriminals tamper with both digital and physical QR codes to replace legitimate codes with malicious codes. A victim scans what they think to be a legitimate code but the tampered code directs victims to a malicious site…
Fact #3 : FBI Advisory Did Not Mention Restaurant / Menu
Interestingly, the entire FBI advisory did not once mention restaurants or menus, and that makes a lot of sense.
It is odd to focus on the risk of using QR codes for online menus in restaurants, when they are used in so many other ways today – from making mobile payments, as mobile tickets, login tokens, etc.
Any security risk involving restaurant menu QR codes would also apply to QR codes used for other purposes. So it really doesn’t make sense for the FBI to “pick on” restaurant menu QR codes.
QR code (which is short for Quick Response code) is not nefarious or malicious in nature. The FB advisory specifically pointed that out – “QR codes are not 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 #5 : QR Code Can Be Tampered With
It is true that QR codes can be tampered with. In fact, the FBI advisory was issued after Texas police departments discovered fraudulent QR code stickers on parking meters in San Antonio and Austin. Drivers who scanned those fake QR codes were taken to a scam website. instead of the real payment website.
Hence, the FBI issued that warning to remind people to check the URL link to make sure that it is the intended website, and not a phishing page with a similar link. For example, the fake website may use www.quikpay.com when the real website is www.quickpay.com.
To completely avoid this risk, avoid using QR code to access a payment website. Always go directly to the payment website on your smartphone’s web browser by keying in the link yourself. Genuine payment labels with a QR code will often include a direct URL link for you to use as a safer alternative.
While scammers can place fraudulent QR codes over genuine ones at restaurants, bars, and other eateries, this is a very unlikely attack vector.
That’s because restaurants often use QR codes to redirect you to an online system to order food and drinks for your table. Imagine if you scan a fraudulent QR code and are asked to key in your credit card details. That would be absurd, and you would surely complain to the waiter since you haven’t even ordered your food!
In most cases, you are not expected to pay at the table using QR code. You either pay using cash / credit card / mobile payment using QR code at the payment counter. Even if that QR code is compromised, the cashier would notice it immediately as any payment made using that QR code would not reflect in the restaurant’s point-of-sale (POS) system.
And payment only occurs after dining – a fraudulent QR code that leads you to a fake website won’t allow you to actually order anything, since it’s not connected to the real restaurant and its ordering system. That’s why this attack vector is highly improbable.
In any case, many restaurants now generate temporary QR codes on disposable paper stubs to avoid this risk. The QR code is only valid for your dining session. The next person to dine at the same table will receive a different QR code.
Fact #7 : QR Code Can Potentially Inject Malware
It is possible for QR code to inject malware into the smartphone that you are using to scan. In fact, there are apps like QRGen that allow scammers / hackers to easily generate malicious QR codes. However, it isn’t quite as simple as the article makes it out to be.
For one thing – malware and exploits are limited to specific operating systems or phone models. For example, an Android exploit / malware won’t work on iPhones. Or an exploit / malware that makes use of an Android 11 vulnerability won’t work on newer / updated Android smartphones since they would have patched the exploit.
Second – any malware will require considerable amounts of code to load. The scammer / hacker will have to use an enormous QR code like the version 40 example below, or it will need to convince you to download and install the malware package itself.
Genuine restaurant menu QR codes are simple – like the version 1 / version 10 examples above, because they only serve a link to their online menu / ordering system. If you see a large and complex QR code like the version 40 example, avoid scanning it, and ask the restaurant staff to verify its authenticity.
Restaurant menu QR codes would also never ask you to download or install anything. They only serve to load a link to an online menu / ordering system, so if you are asked to download or install anything, do NOT proceed, and notify the restaurant.
These tips also apply to other businesses that use QR codes to show you a menu, discounts, offers, information, etc.
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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.
Malaysian telcos have started banning SMS links, as part of the MCMC’s initiative to prevent scams! Here is what you need to know!
Malaysian Telcos Ban SMS Links To Prevent Scams!
On Tuesday, 2 May 2023, four Malaysian telcos – Maxis, Celcom, Digital and U Mobile started banning SMS links, as part of the MCMC’s initiative to prevent scams.
From this day onwards, users will be blocked from sending or receiving SMS with a link. MCMC had earlier issued the directive to all telcos on February 14, 2023, but the ban on SMS links is only now being implemented.
The ban on SMS links is currently not mandatory for all telcos, and is being implemented in phases. Currently, the ban is limited to SMS between individuals.
Businesses using short codes like 6XXXX, 2XXXX and 1XXXX will eventually be banned from including a URL link in their SMS messages. They will be given time to switch to other methods to send promotional messages with links to their customers.
The MCMC has issued a directive to all telcos to block sending and receiving of SMS with URL link. The objective is to prevent users from becoming victims of online scams
MCMC issued the directive to all service providers on Feb 14 and is currently assessing the progress. For now, the block is still not mandatory.
The blocking of person-to-person SMS with URL links will take effect from 2 May 2023. For SMS sent by business via short codes such as 6XXXX, 2XXXX and 1XXXX, this will be done later and specific notification to business users will be sent.
Malaysia Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching said in February 2023 that blocking such SMS links will ensure that people won’t click on them and possibly end up as a scam victim.
Only SMS Links Banned, Links Via Other Platforms Still A Risk
While this measure is really helpful in reducing scams, the ban is limited to SMS links. Scammers can still send links through instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, etc.
That does not mean that links are inherently bad. Links in messages, even SMS messages, are mostly safe.
Perfectly Fine
Clicking on a link to read an article / terms and conditions of a promotion
Clicking on a link to enrol in a promotion which does not require you to log into any website
Clicking on a link to check in for a flight, or get a travel update
However, they can be used to send you to a phishing website which is designed to look like a genuine bank / payment website. Hence, it is critical that you should NEVER log into any website through a link.
NEVER DO THIS
Clicking on a link to log into a bank website
Clicking on a link to make a purchase or payment
Clicking on a link to log into any account / email
Phishing attacks work by tricking you into going into a fake website that looks like the real website. But you still have to log into the fake website to give the scammers your login details.
If you click on a link, and you are asked to login – this is likely a phishing attack. But don’t worry – as long as you refuse to log into any website after clicking on a link, the phishing attack fails.
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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.
Can hackers use Good Morning videos, pictures and messages to hack your devices, and steal your data?!
Find out what is happening, and what the FACTS really are!
Updated @ 2023-04-21 : Updated with a new 2023 version of the hoax Originally posted @ 2022-11-01
Claim : Hackers Are Using Good Morning Messages To Hack You!
This post about Chinese hackers using Good Morning videos, pictures and messages to hack your devices, keeps going viral on social media and WhatsApp.
It’s a long message, so just skip to the next section for the facts!
Dear friends, please delete all welcome photos and videos in Good Morning format and the like. Read below the article to the end, which will be clear why I ask about it. From now on I will only send personally prepared greetings.
Read all! Please send this message urgently to as many friends as possible to prevent illegal intrusion. Warning from Olga Nikolaevnas lawyer:
ATTENTION! For those who like to send Good Morning pictures! Good day! Good evening! Do not send these “good” messages.
Today, Shanghai China International News sent SOS to all subscribers (this is the third reminder) that experts recommend: please do not send good morning, good night, pictures and videos,.
Reports show that hackers in China designed the images, the video is so beautiful to hide the phishing codes inside them, when everyone sends these messages, the hackers use your devices to steal personal information, such as bank card information and data to crack the phone.
It has been reported that more than 500,000 victims of fraud have already been deceived.
If you want to greet others, write your own message to protect yourself and your family and friends.
Important! Delete all greeting messages and pictures that you have on your phone for your own safety. If someone sent you such a picture, immediately remove it from the device. Malicious code takes time to deploy, so if you act immediately, no harm will be done.
Tell all your friends about this to prevent hacking.
Greet others by writing your own words, and send only images you create. The material you create yourself is completely safe.‼️‼️ ️‼️
Please understand me correctly! All have credit cards attached to their phone. Everyone has a lot of contacts in their phones. You will create a threat not only to yourself, but to all the contacts that you have on your phones, your friends and acquaintances. ‼️ ️‼️ ️‼️
Take this very carefully! This is a harsh reality‼️ ️‼️ ️‼️
Fact #3 : No Fraud Involving Good Morning Messages
There has been no known fraud involving Good Morning or even Good Night messages, videos or pictures.
Certainly, half a million victims of such a scam would have made front page news. Yet there is not a single report on even one case…. because it never happened.
Fact #4 : Image-Based Malware Is Possible, But…
Digital steganography is a method by which secret messages and other data can be hidden in digital files, like a photo or a video, or even a music file.
It is also possible to embed malicious code within a Good Morning photo, but it won’t be a full-fledged malware that can execute by itself.
At most, it can be used to hide the malware payload from antivirus scanners, which is pretty clever to be honest…
Fact #5 : Image-Based Malware Requires User Action
In January 2019, cybercriminals created an online advertisement with a script that appears innocuous and would pass any malware check.
However, the image itself has an “almost white” rectangle that is recognised by the script, triggering it to redirect the user to the cybercriminals’ website.
Once there, the victim is tricked into installing a Trojan disguised as an Adobe Flash Player update.
Such a clever way to bypass malware checks, but even so, this image-based malware requires user action.
You cannot get infected by the Trojan if you practice good “Internet hygiene” by not downloading or installing anything from unknown websites.
Fact #6 : Malicious Code Executes Immediately
If you accidentally download and trigger malware, it will execute immediately. It won’t wait, as the hoax message claims.
Deleting Good Morning or Good Night photos or videos will free up storage space in your phone, but it won’t prevent any malware from executing.
There is really no reason for malware to wait before it infects your devices. Waiting will only increase the risk of detection.
Whether the malware serves to take over your device, steal your information or encrypt it for ransom, it pays to do it at the first opportunity.
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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.
MSI users are at risk of rogue BIOS / firmware updates, after hackers got hold of its source codes, private keys and BIOS firmware!
MSI Hit By Ransomware Attack + Data Theft!
On 7 April 2023, MSI (Micro-Star International) was hit by a ransomware attack, in which the hackers allegedly exfiltrated 1.5 terabytes of source codes, BIOS firmware, private keys and other data from its servers.
In its terse regulatory filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE), MSI admitted that it was hacked, but did not detail the circumstances or nature of the attack.
After detecting some information systems being attacked by hackers,MSI’s IT department has initiated information security defense mechanism and recovery procedures. The Company also has been reported the anomaly to the relevant government authorities.
MSI claimed that the attack had “[no] significant impact our business in terms of financial and operational currently“, but said that it was “enhancing the information security control measures of its network and infrastructure to ensure data security.”
In a public statement, MSI also urged users to only obtain firmware / BIOS updates from its official website, and refrain from using other sources.
Stolen Data Exposes MSI Users To Rogue BIOS / Firmware Updates!
The MSI ransomware attack and data theft appear to be committed by the Money Message ransomware gang, which has threatened to release the 1.5 terabytes of critical data that it exfiltrated from MSI servers.
While MSI has apparently restored files encrypted by the ransomware, exposure of the private keys and source codes, will likely allow Money Message or other threat actors to develop rogue BIOS or firmware updates.
Installing rogue BIOS / firmware updates will give the malware the access level of a super-low-level rootkit, giving it full control over your computer, with the ability to spy on almost everything you do. Such malware will also be extremely difficult to detect and remove. After all, it boots up before the operating system!
These days, rogue BIOS or firmware updates are much less of a problem because they are usually digitally-signed by the vendor, MSI in this case. Even if threat actors distribute Trojanised downloads for MSI users, they cannot create the right digital signatures for those files.
However, now that MSI’s private keys have been stolen, they can be used to create rogue BIOS or firmware updates with authentic digital signatures! MSI users downloading and installing those updates will never know the difference.
The biggest risk right now is with PC hardware enthusiasts who enjoy installing unofficial firmware updates to gain access to special settings. That is precisely why MSI is urging its users to only download files from its official website.
Of course, this assumes that the MSI download servers are secure, and have not been compromised. If the threat actors have access to the MSI download servers, they can insert Trojanised downloads with proper signatures, and MSI system administrators may be none the wiser!
Let’s hope that this incident forces MSI to take a much closer look at its cybersecurity measures, and run penetration tests to ensure that its download servers are secure. Otherwise, some threat actors will likely hit pay dirt with MSI users!
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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.
MSI just got hit by a massive ransomware attack, but even worse – it lost a ton of critical data to the hackers!
MSI Hit By Ransomware Attack + Data Theft!
On 7 April 2023, MSI (Micro-Star International) was hit by a ransomware attack, in which the hackers allegedly exfiltrated 1.5 terabytes of source codes, BIOS firmware, private keys and other data from its servers.
In its terse regulatory filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE), MSI admitted that it was hacked, but did not detail the circumstances or nature of the attack.
After detecting some information systems being attacked by hackers,MSI’s IT department has initiated information security defense mechanism and recovery procedures. The Company also has been reported the anomaly to the relevant government authorities.
MSI claimed that the attack had “[no] significant impact our business in terms of financial and operational currently“, but said that it was “enhancing the information security control measures of its network and infrastructure to ensure data security.”
In a public statement, MSI also urged users to only obtain firmware / BIOS updates from its official website, and refrain from using other sources.
Hackers Demand $4 Million From MSI To Not Release Stolen Data
The MSI ransomware attack and data theft appear to be committed by the Money Message ransomware gang.
While MSI has apparently restored files encrypted by Money Message’s ransomware, the gang now has access to about 1.5 terabytes of critical MSI data.
According to BleepingComputer, chats between Money Message and an MSI representative show the gang demanding a ransom payment of $4 million. Otherwise, Money Message will release the stolen files.
To show that they did indeed steal those MSI files, Money Message posted screenshots of what they describe was MSI’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) databases and files containing software source code, private keys, and BIOS firmware.
If Money Message releases MSI confidential data, it may not just be embarrassing for the Taiwanese company, it could allow other threat actors to use the source code and private keys to create malware targeting their customers.
In light of that, MSI users should only download and install software or BIOS firmware from the official MSI website.
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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.
Watch out for the phishing attack that will allow scammers to take over your Telegram account!
Scam Alert : Watch Out For Telegram Phishing Attack!
Scammers are now targeting Telegram users with a phishing attack that is designed to trick them into giving up their accounts! The Telegram phishing attack works like this:
Step 1 : The scammer gains control of your friend’s Telegram account, and sends this message to you:
Dear Telegram users. The system detects that this account is abnormal and has potential security risks.
To ensure that you can log in to your account normally, you need to invite friends for auxiliary verification
The risk control account has not been verified. The system will cancel the account after 24 hours!
Personal Information Authentication：[link removed]
Step 2 : The scammer, masquerading as your friend, asks you to help him/her verify his/her Telegram account by clicking on the link.
There are security risks in my account, and I need friends to help me verify it. Please click on the official link to help me verify it and follow the prompts. thank you
Step 3 : If you click on the [removed] link to help your friend, you will be taken to a website that looks like an official Telegram website. DO NOT DO THIS.
Step 4 : You will be asked to log into your Telegram account on the fake website. DO NOT DO THIS.
Step 5 : The fake Telegram website will ask you to key in your Login code, or take and upload a screenshot of your Telegram. DO NOT DO THIS.
Step 6 : If you continue, the scammer will be able to take over your Telegram account, and use it to scam your friends by asking them for money, etc.
The scammer will also have access to your Telegram chats, and all associated media including photos and videos, which could potentially be leaked or used to extort you or other people.
A phishing (pronounced as fishing) attack is a social engineering attack, that uses your trust for an institution (like a bank), authority (Telegram), or someone you know, to give up your login details.
Here are some ways you can protect yourself against any phishing attack on Telegram, or other platforms.
Verify Identity Before Trusting
Many people fall for phishing attacks because it is human nature to trust your friends and to help them. However, on instant messaging apps, you don’t actually know if it’s really your friend on the other end!
So if a friend messages you on Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc to ask for help, ALWAYS verify their identity before proceeding.
If possible, call or message your friend on the phone, or via a different platform (use WhatsApp if the request came on Telegram, for example).
But if you are unable to call your friend, try asking the other person something that only your real friend would know:
Do NOT ask questions like “Are you really Sarah??“
Do NOT ask questions that can be answered by reading previous chat messages.
Ask something that only you and your friend would know, like “Hey Sarah, what was that restaurant we went to last week?“
Ask a fake question that your friend would readily know is not true, like “Hey Sarah, are you coming over tonight?“
If the other person cannot answer or gives you the wrong answer, he/she is not your friend, and that account has likely been taken over by a scammer.
Whenever you see a link being shared, always check if it leads to a legitimate website, or attempts to masquerade as a real website, by substituting characters in the link.
This Telegram phishing attack, for example, uses a link to telegram.0rg.ee. The real Telegram domain name is telegram.org. This is called domain spoofing.
If you see an attempt to impersonate a legitimate website by using a similar-looking domain name, do NOT click on it.
Never Login Via A Link
It is common for people to share links on Telegram, and in Telegram groups. Heck, we share links to our article in the Tech ARP Telegram group!
Clicking on links in Telegram, WhatsApp, emails, etc. is not dangerous, because most lead to legitimate websites that do NOT require you to log in.
What is dangerous is logging into any website through a link. I cannot hammer this enough – NEVER LOG INTO ANY WEBSITE through a link!
Phishing attacks work by tricking you into going into a fake website that looks like the real website. But you still have to log into the fake website to give the scammers your login details.
If you click on a link, and you are asked to login – this is likely a phishing attack. But don’t worry – as long as you refuse to log into any website after clicking on a link, the phishing attack fails.
Turn On Two-Step Verification
All banking platforms, and many mobile apps now offer two-step verification to prevent scammers from taking over user accounts. However, this is often an optional feature that you must manually enable.
Telegram has a two-step verification feature, which prevents scammers and hackers from hijacking your account by requiring a secret password that only you will know.
It is important to publicise phishing attacks, whenever they happen. If people are alerted, they are less likely to fall for such attacks.
However, scammers and hackers can quickly change the way their phishing attack works, so it is important that people understand how phishing attacks work in general.
You can help prevent phishing attacks by sharing this articles, and other cybersecurity warnings, with your family and friends.
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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.
Now, let me show you how to spot these scams next time!
If you spot any of these warning signs, DO NOT PROCEED and DO NOT SHARE!
Warning Sign #1 : Bad Grammar
Most of these scammers do not have a good command of the English language, so if you spot bad grammar, stay away.
Proper contests or events sponsored by major brands like Tenaga Nasional will have at least one PR or marketing person who will vet the text before allowing it to be posted.
Warning Sign #2 : Offering You Free Money Or Gifts
Please do NOT be naive. No one is going to give you money or free gifts just to participate in a survey!
Tenaga Nasional isn’t going to give you FREE money, just because it’s their anniversary.
They are a corporation whose business is to make money, not a charity to give you free money.
Warning Sign #3 : Not Using The Real Jaya Grocer Domain
A genuine Tenaga Nasional campaign would use their real domain – www.tnb.com.my.
Or they would run it off the official Tenaga Nasional page on Facebook – www.facebook.com/TNBCareline/.
If you see nonsensical domains like merefamily.top, 0yjjg61.cn, 1eaf1rnbeef.top, ldxqw.bar, etc. that’s a sign it’s a SCAM!
Warning Sign #4 : Asking You To Forward The Offer
No brand will insist that you must share the offer with 5 groups or 20 friends on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
Do not click to forward their offer to your family and friends. They will not appreciate being scammed with your help!
Warning Sign #5 : Asking You To Download + Register An App
If you click through and joined the fake survey scam, you will eventually be asked to download and register for an app.
This is VERY DANGEROUS. Never agree to download and register for any unknown app from a website.
Always download your apps from an official App Store like Google Play Store (for Android smartphones) and Apple App Store (for iPhones).
Please help us fight scams like this and SHARE this article out!
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.
Is FIFA offering 50 GB of free mobile data to stream World Cup 2022 matches with no interruptions?!
Take a look at the viral offers, and find out why they are just scams!
Claim : FIFA Is Giving Free 50GB Data For World Cup 2022!
People are sharing viral offers for 50 GB of free mobile data to stream World Cup 2022 matches without interruption. Here are some examples :
* FIFA is giving people around the world 50GB of data for free to watch the 2022 Cartel [Qatar] World Cup.* * I Have Received Mine.* * OPEN THIS*
* FIFA memberi orang di seluruh dunia 50GB data secara percuma untuk menonton Piala Dunia Kartel [Qatar] 2022.* * Saya Telah Menerima Milik Saya.* * BUKA INI*
FREE 50GB DATA PLAN FOR ALL NETWORKS
PERCUMA PELAN DATA 50GB UNTUK SEMUA RANGKAIAN
Truth : FIFA Is Not Giving 50GB Free Data For World Cup 2022!
This is yet another SCAM circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why you must avoid it!
Fact #1 : FIFA Is Not Offering Free Mobile Data
First, let me just say it out loud and clear – FIFA is not offering free mobile data anywhere in the world, just to watch World Cup 2022 matches.
FIFA makes its money through sale of television, marketing and licensing rights for World Cup 2022, so there is simply no reason for it to provide free mobile data to stream the matches.
Fact #2 : FIFA Would Never Give You Anything Free
Please do NOT be naive. No one is going to give you free data just to participate in a survey!
FIFA is a corporation whose business is to make money, not a charity to give you free data.
Fact #3 : They Do Not Use Official FIFA Domains
Genuine FIFA promotions would be announced on the official website at www.fifa.com, or their official social media accounts:
They would never run contests or promotions via dodgy domains like “subsidy.buzz”, “50g.kxoe1.xyz”, “50gb450.xyz”, or “zlqxt.top”.
Once you see those random domains, click delete. Or just ignore. DO NOT CLICK.
Fact #4 : They Are Advertisement Scams
After you click on the link, you will be redirected through a series of hidden advertisements before you arrive at the “offer page”.
The offer page will ask you a series of simple questions. Regardless of your answers, you will be congratulated and told you won the 50 GB free data plan for three months.
You will be asked to key in your mobile number to receive the free mobile data, but you will never receive anything. In one variant, you are even redirected to more advertisements, including a video advertisement.
Fact #5 : Brands Won’t Ask You To Forward The Contest
To get that free 50 GB data for three months, you are asked to share the “contest” with 12 friends or groups on WhatsApp.
That’s a clear sign of a scam. No brand will insist that you must share their contest or free offer with WhatsApp friends of groups.
Please do not click to forward their offer to your family and friends. They will not appreciate being scammed with your help!
Fact #6 : They Can Potentially Be Dangerous
Similar scams in the past have more dangerous variants, where you are asked to :
a) install an app, which is really a malware to keep sending you advertisements
b) enter your banking or credit card details, ostensibly to prove your identity or some other excuse
Needless to say – proceeding with this step will open you up to great risk of monetary loss. DO NOT PROCEED!
If you install their malware, you will start receiving promotions, some of which will ask you to send an SMS to receive expensive free gifts like laptops and smartphones.
If you proceed to send the confirmation SMS messages, you will be subscribed and billed for international premium SMS services.
This is VERY DANGEROUS. Never agree to download and register for any unknown app from a website.
Always download your apps from an official App Store like Google Play Store (for Android smartphones) and Apple App Store (for iPhones).
Fact #7 : They Are Just Another Example Of Online Scams
These are just more examples of online scams offering freebies.
Now that you know the facts, please WARN 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.
Is the Semak.Info website used to check for GE15 voter information really a phishing website?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Semak.Info Is A Phishing Website!
After the official voter information website by the Malaysia Election Commission (SPR) went down a day before the GE15 election day,, people were advised to try an alternative voter information website called Semak.Info.
However, this warning then went viral later that day, claiming that the Semak.Info website is really a phishing website!
The app.semak.info is a phishing site to track your mobile number. Please be informed. Please do not forward. Thanks.
Truth : Semak.Info Is NOT A Phishing Website!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Semak.Info + App.Semak.Info Are Different Pages
First, let me point out that Semak.Info, and App.Semak.Info are two different pages on the same website. Think of them as two different rooms in the same office.
Semak.Info is the public-facing page, where users can check their GE15 voter information. Think of it as the information desk at your office.
App.Semak.Info, on the other hand, appears to be the website administrator’s page. Think of it as the back office.
That’s why it has a login page, just like how your back office would have a door with a lock – so that the public can’t just walk inside.
Fact #2 : Phishing Websites Masquerade As Genuine Websites
Phishing (pronounced as fishing) is a social engineering attack that attempts to obtain your login information, or personal information like credit card and bank account numbers, etc.
Hackers accomplish this by creating fake websites that look like the real website, to trick you into revealing sensitive information like your bank account login and password, or your security questions.
The Semak.Info page does not ask for any login or critical personal information, so it is not a phishing website.
The App.Semak.Info page is blank, with a simple login function. It does not pretend to be an SPR or banking website, and so it is also not a phishing website.
Fact #3 : Semak.Info Is Owned By DAP
When Semak.Info was first circulated, I too was concerned about this “unknown” website. But a quick check showed that the Democratic Action Party (DAP) was the one promoting its use on Facebook.
I did a little digging, and confirmed that the Semak.Info domain is owned by the Democratic Action Party. It also looked like they bought the domain, and developed the website for GE14, way back in 2017.
Fact #4 : Phone Number Used To Send WhatsApp
Some people asked me why this Semak.Info website would require a phone number, when the official SPR website does not require one to obtain voter information.
What they may not realise is that the DAP team added a WhatsApp messaging feature to their Semak.Info website.
Once you key in your phone number and identity card number, the website will give you your voter information. At the bottom though is a blue Whatsapp [sic] button.
If you click on that button, the website will attempt to send a WhatsApp message to that phone number you keyed in earlier, with key voting information.
It doesn’t automatically send the message. You are given a preview of the message, and you will need to tap on the “Continue to Chat” button to actually send that message to the phone number.
Fact #5 : You Can Use A Fake Phone Number
You may be worried that the DAP team could be harvesting your phone number, and tying it to your identification card number.
Frankly speaking, that kind of data is already easily available and sold (illegally) to marketers and scammers alike. So no one actually needs to “scam” you into keying your phone number.
If you are worried, you can use a fake phone number with this website. Just key in any 7-digit number, with a legitimate 3-digit telco prefix (like 011, 012, 017, 018, etc.), and you are good to go.
Please WATCH OUT about such FAKE NEWS on WhatsApp and social media. They are designed to suppress voter turnout in the 15th General Election.
Regardless of what you may read or see on social media, please take the time and effort to cast your vote. This is not only your right, it is your responsibility as a citizen of Malaysia.
Remember – democracy does not guarantee us a good government. Democracy only guarantees us the right to vote out a bad government!
Happy voting on 19 November 2022!
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.
In this guide, I will share with you how to turn on two-step verification in Telegram.
Step 1 : Open Telegram.
Step 2 : Go to Options > Settings > Privacy and Security.
Step 3 : Tap on the Two-Step Verification option.
Step 4 : In the Two-Step Verification screen, tap on the Set Password option.
Step 5 : Key in your preferred password, which can be any combination of capital or small letters and numbers.
Step 6 : You will need to key the same password again, to confirm it.
Step 7 : Next, you can create a hint to remind you of your password. This is optional, and you can skip it if you prefer.
But if you key one in, the hint will be displayed whenever you are asked to key in the password in the future.
Step 8 : After that, you will have the option of adding a Recovery Email address, just in case your account is hijacked.
This is optional as well, but I highly recommend you add a recovery email, which is simply the email address you use.
Step 9 : If you entered a Recovery Email address, Telegram will now send you an email with a 6-digit code to verify that email address.
Step 10 : Look for the Telegram verification code email, and key in the 6-digit verification code.
That’s it! You’re done! From now on, you will be required to key in the password whenever you log into a new device.
This will prevent hackers / scammers from taking over your account, even if you accidentally give them the Login code you receive by SMS.
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.
Watch out for the Telegram screenshot hack and scam! Find out how the Telegram screenshot hack and scam works, and what you can do!
Telegram Screenshot Hack : New Twist To Old Trick
My friend just got hit by the Telegram screenshot hack, and the hacker is now trying to scam everyone on his contact list!
The Telegram screenshot hack is a new twist to an old trick, and here is how they do it…
Step 1 : Identify A Suitable Target
After obtaining a legitimate Telegram account through phishing or other means, the hacker reads through the messages to identify a suitable target – usually a close friend whom you often chat with, and trust.
For the purpose of our example, the hacker stole your friend’s Telegram account and has identified you as a suitable target.
Step 2 : Attempt To Login From Another Device
The hacker installs Telegram in another device and attempts to log into your account. He only needs the your phone number to do that.
The login attempt triggers Telegram to send a Login code to the your registered devices to authenticate the login. Usually, that’s the Telegram app in your smartphone.
Step 3 : Ask For A Screenshot Of Telegram
Traditionally, this is when the hacker will use your friend’s Telegram account to message you and ask for that Login code. However, asking for the Login code may trigger suspicion, so hackers have now come up with a new twist.
Instead of asking you for the Login code, the hacker will use your friend’s Telegram account to ask you to take a screenshot of your Telegram app and send it to him.
What harm is there? After all, many of us take screenshots and share them with family, friends and even on social media!
The problem is – the screenshot will accidentally reveal your Telegram Login code! Take a look at the actual screenshot my friend sent – it clearly shows the Telegram Login code!
Step 4 : Terminate All Other Sessions
The hacker will immediately use the Login code to log into your Telegram account on his device.
Then he will terminate all other sessions from that Telegram account, which means you get logged out from your Telegram app on your own smartphone!
Step 5 : Change Password
To prevent you from logging back in, and terminating his Telegram session, he will change the password.
Step 6 : Scam Your Friends
Now that the hacker gained control of your Telegram account and locked you out of it, he is free to scam your friends.
In this case, my friend’s contacts all started getting pleas to borrow money for some kind of emergency. The hacker will, of course, promise to pay you back quickly.
Your unsuspecting friends may not realise that this is not you that they are talking to, and may end up sending the hacker money.
In this case though, my friend managed to quickly alert us via WhatsApp that his Telegram account was hacked, so we didn’t tall for the scam.
One of his friends toyed with the scammer, and obtained the bank details. That is obviously not my friend’s name or account number!
Telegram Screenshot Hack : How To Prevent It?
Now that you know how the Telegram screenshot hack works, you can pretty much figure out how to prevent it.
Here is my quick summary for those who didn’t go through the whole process above :
Do NOT send anyone your Telegram Login code. Not even anyone claiming to be working for Telegram.
Do NOT send anyone a screenshot of your Telegram app. Even if it’s not a scam, it reveals portions of your chats!
Turn on Two-Step Verification in Telegram. This lets you recover your account, even if you accidentally let someone take over your account.
Telegram Screenshot Hack : How To Recover Your Account?
If you failed to turn on two-step verification, there is still a way to recover your Telegram account after it is stolen by a hacker.
For these steps to work though, you need to have access to your phone number. You must also do this quickly, as the hacker will be alerted to your attempt.
Step 1 : Open Telegram.
Step 2 : Log into your Telegram account using your phone number.
Step 3 : You will be asked if you have the correct number. Click Yes.
Step 4 : Telegram will send a 5-digit code to all your devices with Telegram installed. You won’t receive it since the hacker has already terminated all other sessions.
Step 5 : Click on the option just above the keypad – “Send the code as an SMS“.
Step 6 : You will now receive an SMS with the 5-digit code. Key it in, and you will now have access to your Telegram account.
Step 7 : Go to Options > Settings > Privacy and Security.
Step 8 : Scroll down and tap on Devices.
Step 9 : Tap on the option – Terminate All Other Session – to boot out the hacker.
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.
Unfortunately, this Nespresso contest is yet another SCAM that you should NEVER participate in!
After you click on the link, you are taken to a page that looks like a genuine Nespresso contest page.
You will be asked to answer three very simple questions.
The answers are irrelevant – no matter what you answer, you are always allowed to proceed to the next step.
You are then asked to share the promotion with 30 WhatsApp contacts, or 5 WhatsApp groups.
Next, you will be asked to complete one of these tasks to receive the “free” Nespresso coffee machine :
a) install an app, which is really a malware to send you advertisements, or
b) enter your credit card details
Needless to say – proceeding with this step will open you up to great risk of monetary loss. DO NOT PROCEED!
If you install their malware, you will start receiving promotions, some of which will ask you to send an SMS to receive expensive free gifts like laptops and smartphones.
If you proceed to send the confirmation SMS messages, you will be subscribed and billed for international premium SMS services.
So never click on such contest links, even if they were sent to you by a trusted relative or friend.
They would have certainly been fooled by the scam, so please warn them too!
How To Spot Scams Like The Nespresso Survey Contest!
Now, let me show you how to spot these scams next time!
If you spot any of these warning signs, DO NOT PROCEED and DO NOT SHARE!
Warning Sign #1 : Bad Grammar
Most of these scammers do not have a good command of the English language, so if you spot bad grammar, stay away.
Proper contests or events sponsored by major brands like Nespresso will have at least one PR or marketing person who will vet the text before allowing it to be posted.
Warning Sign #2 : Offering You Free Money Or Gifts
Please do NOT be naive. No one is going to give you money or free gifts just to participate in a survey!
Petronas isn’t going to give you FREE money, just because it’s their anniversary.
They are a corporation whose business is to make money, not a charity to give you free money.
Warning Sign #3 : Not Using The Real Jaya Grocer Domain
A genuine Petronas campaign would use their real domain – www.petronas.com.
Or they would run it off the official Petronas page on Facebook – www.facebook.com/petronas/.
If you see nonsensical domains like 0yjjg61.cn, 1eaf1rnbeef.top, ldxqw.bar, etc. that’s a sign of a SCAM!
Warning Sign #4 : Asking You To Forward The Offer
No brand will insist that you must share the offer with 5 groups or 20 friends on WhatsApp.
Do not click to forward their offer to your family and friends. They will not appreciate being scammed with your help!
Warning Sign #5 : Asking You To Download + Register An App
If you click through and joined the fake survey scam, you will eventually be asked to download and register for an app.
This is VERY DANGEROUS. Never agree to download and register for any unknown app from a website.
Always download your apps from an official App Store like Google Play Store (for Android smartphones) and Apple App Store (for iPhones).
Please help us fight scams like this and SHARE this article out!
And please WARN 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)
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.
For one thing – Petronas was incorporated on 17 August 1974, so their 50th anniversary would be on 17 August 2024!
Petronas confirmed that this survey is a scam in a Facebook post :
PETRONAS has been made aware of a scam online “survey” conducted supposedly in conjunction with “PETRONAS’ 50th Anniversary”.
We wish to inform that neither PETRONAS nor any of our subsidiaries within the Group of Companies are involved in this “survey”, and we appeal to the public not to respond or take part.
I know many of us are in dire straits during this COVID-19 pandemic, having lost jobs, income or even loved ones.
Unfortunately, scammers are counting on our desperation to prey on us, using the same survey scam they have been using for years :
Now, let me show you how to spot these scams next time!
If you spot any of these warning signs, DO NOT PROCEED and DO NOT SHARE!
Warning Sign #1 : Bad Grammar
Most of these scammers do not have a good command of the English language, so if you spot bad grammar, stay away.
Proper contests or events sponsored by major brands like Petronas will have at least one PR or marketing person who will vet the text before allowing it to be posted.
Warning Sign #2 : Offering You Free Money Or Gifts
Please do NOT be naive. No one is going to give you money or free gifts just to participate in a survey!
Petronas isn’t going to give you FREE money, just because it’s their anniversary.
They are a corporation whose business is to make money, not a charity to give you free money.
Warning Sign #3 : Not Using The Real Jaya Grocer Domain
A genuine Petronas campaign would use their real domain – www.petronas.com.
Or they would run it off the official Petronas page on Facebook – www.facebook.com/petronas/.
If you see nonsensical domains like 0yjjg61.cn, 1eaf1rnbeef.top, ldxqw.bar, etc. that’s a sign of a SCAM!
Warning Sign #4 : Asking You To Forward The Offer
No brand will insist that you must share the offer with 5 groups or 20 friends on WhatsApp.
Do not click to forward their offer to your family and friends. They will not appreciate being scammed with your help!
Warning Sign #5 : Asking You To Download + Register An App
If you click through and joined the fake survey scam, you will eventually be asked to download and register for an app.
This is VERY DANGEROUS. Never agree to download and register for any unknown app from a website.
Always download your apps from an official App Store like Google Play Store (for Android smartphones) and Apple App Store (for iPhones).
Please help us fight scams like this and SHARE this article out!
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.
Was the US Navy forced to withdraw from the South China Sea after Chinese jamming attacks on their planes?
Find out what’s going on, and what the FACTS really are…
Claim : US Navy Withdraws After Chinese Jamming Attacks!
This was the Chinese article that went viral after the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao) and netizens promoted it excitedly in July 2020, and again in 2022.
It was allegedly translated into English by Hong Kong-based analyst, Thomas Wing Polin, whose translation was widely circulated on social media
It was this English translation that went viral again social media, after tensions rose between the US and China over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The post is very long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts…
Just now, the U.S. fighter plane flew over the South China Sea again. Unexpectedly, it lost control halfway, and the U.S. finally admitted one thing.
Just now, the US CNBC website reported that several US Growler electronic warplanes were mysteriously attacked when they flew to the South China Sea again.
These warplanes were all out of control midway, but these warplanes were out of control for only a few seconds. Then the US military ordered the request. All fighters over the South China Sea withdrew.
In this regard, the United States was at a loss as to why this happened. Finally, they mobilized reconnaissance satellites to discover that many electronic jamming devices appeared on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
It was these devices that caused the short-term loss of control of the U.S. fighter planes. According to the pilots, when they were attacked electronically, all the instruments in the cabin were chaotic.
The fighter planes were completely out of control and could not communicate with the outside world, but they did not know what happened.
After the accident, the United States negotiated with my country, demanding that my country dismantle the electronic equipment immediately, but it was rejected.
These electronic devices are an important part of my country’s maritime defense and are not offensive weapons. Therefore, the US military’s request for dismantling is unreasonable.
So why does this electronic device make the United States so afraid? First of all, it is an electronic jamming device that can cut off the enemy’s radio system. The attacked fighter will be out of control. Since it cannot be controlled, these fighters will soon crash.
The second is that its attack method is unpredictable. Compared with conventional air defense missiles, electronic jamming systems are more concealed. Because its attack method interferes with the radio, enemy fighter planes are often hit inadvertently.
At the same time, this type of attack is almost impossible to intercept. That’s why the US military asks my country to dismantle these weapons.
On the same day, Swift, the former commander of the US Pacific, finally admitted that the US military had lost the best time to control the South China Sea. He believes that China has deployed a large number of Hongqi 9 air defense missiles, H6K fighter jets, and electronic jamming systems on islands and reefs. The defense can be said to be solid. If US fighter jets rush into the South China Sea, they are likely to encounter “Waterloo.”
In fact, since the construction of China’s island and reef defense began, the living space of US military fighters and warships has been shrinking. If China continues to develop like this, the United States will not have any chance of winning.
Whether it is islands or reefs or electronic jamming systems, these are part of our national defense system. According to the US military, my country’s electronic jamming system has covered more than half of the South China Sea. It can be seen from this that American fighters must be careful when entering the South China Sea.
US Navy Withdraws After Jamming : Just A Chinese Fantasy
That Chinese article was given some legitimacy after it was posted in Asia Times by Pepe Escobar.
However, it is COMPLETELY BOGUS, and is yet another example of Chinese propaganda warfare. Here are the facts…
Fact #1 : There Is No Such CNBC Report
A quick check on any search engine will show that CNBC never published a report on US Growler planes being attacked by Chinese jamming.
Fact #2 : No US Growler Planes Ever Lost Control From Chinese Jamming
No US EA-18G Growler planes ever lost control to Chinese jamming.
The Americans first detected Chinese jamming during USS Theodore Roosevelt’s deployment to the Philippines in 2018.
One EA-18G Growler pilot confirmed it in an interview with GMA News Online, but pointed out that they were not in danger :
The mere fact that some of your equipment is not working is already an indication that someone is trying to jam you. And so we have an answer to that.
A EA-18G Growler, XE 573 166857 of the VX-9 “Vampires” cruises over the desert during a mission. Shot 3/11/2009. RMS 227040
Fact #3 : EA-18G Growler Is An Electronics Warfare Aircraft
The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a two-seat electronics warfare aircraft, designed to jam enemy radar and electronics.
While the Growler is still vulnerable to powerful ground jamming, it is the worst aircraft for the Chinese to attack electronically because it’s the American aircraft most able to defend against, and respond to, a jamming attack.
Hence, the pilot’s response – “We have an answer to [Chinese jamming]“.
Fitted with a multitude of jamming pods and electronics, its electronics warfare officer can counter-jam Chinese radar and communications in the area.
And if they are ever in real danger, the pilot can fire an AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) to destroy the Chinese jammer.
But perhaps that’s also the reason why the Chinese chose to attack the EA-18G Growler in 2018 – it was the aircraft best able to withstand such an attack.
Fact #4 : It Is Illegal To Jam Any Aircraft In International Airspace
China has the right to jam foreign military aircraft entering its airspace without permission, but the Chinese do not have the right to jam any aircraft, military or civilian, flying in international airspace.
While a jamming attack is not an act of war like firing a missile or shooting shells at the aircraft, it is still a hostile, provocative act that could result in the loss of aircraft and aircrew.
Needless to say – it is illegal for for anyone to electronically interfere with aircraft flying in international space, even if they are EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.
No nation that claims to be peaceful would behave so recklessly.
Fact #5 : China Pledged Not To Militarise The Spratlys
Back in 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that China has no intention to militarise the Spratly islands :
Relevant construction activity that China is undertaking in the Nansha Islands does not target or impact any country and there is no intention to militarise.
President Xi Jinping also reiterated that China is “committed to freedom of navigation in the sea” and to “resolving disputes through dialogue“.
The presence of military jamming equipment in 2018 though would suggest that President Xi was lying, or has no control of what really goes on in the South China Sea.
It doesn’t help that the writer specifically pointed out how China has militarised those islands :
Since the construction of China’s island and reef defense began, the living space of US military fighters and warships has been shrinking. If China continues to develop like this, the United States will not have any chance of winning.
Fact #6 : Jammers Are Offensive Weapons
The claim that electronic jammers are defensive weapons is nonsensical. Electronic jamming is an offensive capability.
Imagine if your neighbour uses an electronic jammer to disrupt your Wi-Fi network, claiming that he has the right to defend his own Wi-Fi network. Which court in the world would agree with him?
The Chinese author of that fantasy piece actually debunked his own claim that jammers are defensive weapons, noting that “it is an electronic jamming device that can cut off the enemy’s radio system. The attacked fighter will be out of control. Since it cannot be controlled, these fighters will soon crash.”
Does that sound like a defensive weapon to you? Serious lack of logic and common sense.
Russian Krasukha ground jamming system
Fact #7 : Electronic Jammers Do Not Affect Flight Controls
While electronic jammers can suppress or disrupt radar and communications, they cannot render an aircraft uncontrollable.
Airplanes will not crash simply because they lose radar and communications. Planes that lose radar and communications can still fly…
So the claim that Chinese jammers caused the Growler planes to almost crash is ludicrous.
Fact #8 : Chinese Jammers Do Not Cover Half The South China Sea
While the writer claims that the US military acknowledged that China’s electronic jamming system has covered more than half of the South China Sea, this is yet another fantasy.
The Chinese only deployed military jamming equipment to several artificial islands they created on Mischief Reef and Fiery Cross.
And as powerful as ground-based jamming can be, their effectiveness is greatly reduced by range. That’s why China introduced their Xi’an H-6G airborne jamming aircraft in 2018.
These long-range jamming aircraft would not be necessary if China is already capable of jamming electronics across such a vast distance.
Xian H-6G jamming bomber
Fact #9 : The United States Did Not Withdraw
The United States did not withdraw from the South China Sea in July 2020, as claimed by the article.
In fact, they sent two aircraft carriers – USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan – together with their battle groups into the South China Sea just before the Chinese article was published.
It was the first time two carrier groups operated together in the South China Sea since 2009. The third US carrier – USS Theodore Roosevelt – was also nearby, in the Philippine Sea.
The US Navy Chief of Information left no doubt that the two carriers were there to assert that the South China Sea are international waters, not Chinese waters.
— Navy Chief of Information (@chinfo) July 5, 2020
Not did it withdraw in April 2021 when the same article went viral again.
In April 2021, the US Navy posted this famous photo of the captain and executive officer of USS Mustin (DDG-89) – an Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer watching the Liaoning carrier group in the Philippine Sea.
The photo left no doubt that the US Navy was not going anywhere, and would shadow Chinese naval forces wherever they are in the South China Sea… and beyond.
Neither did they withdraw in 2022 when the same fake story went viral again.
On 20 January 2022, USS Benfold – an Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer – conducted a Freedom of Navigation operation by sailing past the Paracel Islands (which the Chinese call Xisha Islands).
On 24 January 2022, two US aircraft carrier groups led by USS Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln entered the South China Sea for training exercises.
This fake story appears to be part of the disinformation campaign conducted by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛).
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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 China create these amazing robot dancers at the Shanghai Disneyland, beating even the Japanese?
Watch the viral clip for yourself, and find out what the FACTS really are!
Claim : China Created Classic Robot Dancers At Shanghai Disneyland!
Here is the video that countless people have been sharing on social media and even on YouTube. It is often paired with a short explanation in (broken) English.
This classic dance is only created in China and broadcast in Shanghai Disneyland. They are not female dance artists, but all robots made in China.
The performance time is only about 5 minutes, but the ticket queue time takes 4 hours. The ticket price is 499 yuan.
It has surpassed Japan in complexity, and its perfect facial expressions. Send this video to everyone to watch. Let us enjoy together…
Truth : They Are NOT Robot Dancers At Shanghai Disneyland!
The agility and grace of these dancers are amazing, but they are NOT robot dancers created by China for Shanghai Disneyland!
The less gullible would point out that it is something you would only expect from professional human dancers, and they would be right.
Fact #1 : That Is A Video Of A CBDF Competition
That was actually a video clip from one of the many competitions organised and broadcast by the CBDF (Chinese Ballroom Dance Federation).
Although we cannot ascertain who the dancers are, you can see the CBDF logo in the background, at 4:03 and 4:38.
No robot made today can match their agility and grace.
Fact #2 : 499 Yuan Was The Entry Price To Shanghai Disneyland
The fake story claimed that the ticket to watch this performance costs 499 Yuan – about US$73 / £55 / RM303. That would be ridiculously exorbitant for a single show.
In truth, that was the cost of an entry ticket to the Shanghai Disneyland when it first opened in February 2016.
Since 6 June 2018, it has been priced at 399 Yuan (off-peak), 575 Yuan (peak) and 665 Yuan (peak holiday).
Fact #3 : Disneyland Does Not Charge Extra To Watch Certain Shows
Anyone who has been to Disneyland knows that the entry fee is pricey. That’s because it covers all rides and shows inside Disneyland.
You only need to pay for food and drinks, and arcade games. Or if you opt to purchase Disney Fastpasses (Fastpass, FastPass+, MaxPass) to bypass long queues at popular rides or shows.
Otherwise, all rides and shows are free to enjoy once you enter Disneyland.
Fact #4 : That Is Not The Only Fake Video Of Chinese Robot Dancers
That is not the only fake video of Chinese robot dancers.
This one circulated earlier, claiming to be of a female robot dancer that handily beats all Japanese made-robots.
In that example, they took the video clip from the 2018 World Dance Sport Federation Championship in Lithuania…
Who Would Create Fake Stories About Robot Dancers?
With China’s aggressive foreign stance in recent years, it is not uncommon to see such fake stories being created and shared.
Some believe it’s part of a concerted attempt to burnish China’s image overseas.
Others believe the many fake stories are being created to drown out the negative coverage of China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative, and their aggressive moves in the South China Sea.
Whatever the reasons may be, it is our duty as global citizens to stop the proliferation of such fake stories.
Please share this fact check with your friends, so they know the truth!
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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.
After Anonymous declare a cyberwar against Russia, their affiliates are going after the Russian space agency, Roscosmos.
Here is what they accomplished so far!
Anonymous Affiliate NB65 Attacked Russian Space Agency!
On 28 February 2022, the hacking group – Anonymous Network Battalion 65′ (NB65), which hacked and released over 40,000 files from the Russian Nuclear Safety Institute.
They then turned their attention to the Russian Space Agency, claiming to shut down the WS02 Vehicle Monitoring System server at the Roscosmos Control Center on 1 March 2022.
The Russian Space Agency sure does love their satellite imaging.
Better yet they sure do love their Vehicle Monitoring System.
The WS02 was deleted, credentials were rotated and the server is shut down.
Network Battalion isn’t going to give you the IP, that would be too easy, now wouldn’t it?
Have a nice Monday fixing your spying tech. Glory to Ukraine.
We wont [sic] stop until you stop dropping bombs, killing civilians and trying to invade.
Go the fuck back to Russia.
However, Roscosmos Chief Executive, Dmitry Rogozin denied the claim, saying that “The information of these scammers and petty swindlers is not true. All our space activity control centers are operating normally.‘
The information of these scammers and petty swindlers is not true. All our space activity control centers are operating normally. https://t.co/MY0qzlLqCI
Anonymous Affiliate v0g3lSec Hacked Russian Space Agency Website!
On 3 March 2022, another Anonymous affiliate, v0g3lSec, hacked a website owned by the Russian Space Agency – http://uv.ikiweb.ru/.
This appears to be the official website for the World Space Observatory-Ultraviolet (WSO-UV) telescope, also known as the Spektr-UV. It is still down as of 4 March 2022.
Anonymous Affiliate v0g3lSec Leaked Russian Space Agency Files!
On 4 March 2022, v0g3lSecreleased files that were hacked from a private service hosted by the Russian space agency.
The files apparently contained data from Luna – a joint programme between Roscosmos and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The leaked data consisted of 261 items, with a size of 729 gigabytes.
The executable files (.exe) are from 2012, with a timestamp of 2012-12-20 18:18:57.
Most of the documents are from 2009 to 2012, so the files are pretty old.
This suggests that the files that v0g3lSec stole were old data archived by Roscosmos. While it is a technical success, it is unlikely to have any actual effect.
Roscosmos Chief Threatens ISS + War
Roscosmos chief, Rogozin, suggested that sanctions against Russia could result in the destruction of the International Space Station (ISS).
If you block cooperation with us, who will save the ISS from an uncontrolled deorbit and fall into the United States or Europe?
Rogozin also said that any cyberattack on Russia’s satellites would be considered casus belli – a cause for war.
However, it is unknown how Roscosmos or Russia plans to declare or effect war against Anonymous, or its affiliates.
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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 the US Supreme Court just cancel universal vaccination because the COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe?!
Find out what’s going on, and what the FACTS really are!
Claim : US Supreme Court Just Canceled Universal Vaccination!
Alternative health / news websites are YET AGAIN claiming that the Supreme Court just cancelled universal vaccination in the United States!
Allegedly, Senator Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a group of scientists filed a lawsuit against Bill Gates, Dr. Fauci and Big Pharma, and they won!
It is a long essay, please SKIP to the next section for the FACTS!
URGENT: Supreme Court Has Canceled Universal Vaccination In The United States
Just Got this:
Has not been in the news anywhere. Looks like we are getting closer to the Final Scene in the movie.
Please ALERT everyone in the family, friends and relatives! BREAKING NEWS !
Supreme Court has canceled universal vaccination In the United States, the Supreme Court has canceled universal vaccination.
Bill Gates, US Chief Infectious Disease Specialist Fauci, and Big Pharma have lost a lawsuit in the US Supreme Court, failing to prove that all of their vaccines over the past 32 years have been safe for the health of citizens!
The lawsuit was filed by a group of scientists led by Senator Kennedy. Robert F. Kennedy Jr .:
“The new COVID vaccine should be avoided at all costs. I urgently draw your attention to important issues related to the next vaccination against Covid-19.
For the first time in the history of vaccination, the so-called mRNA vaccines of the latest generation directly interfere with the patient’s genetic material and therefore alter the individual genetic material, which is genetic manipulation, which was already prohibited and was previously considered a crime.
The coronavirus VACCINE IS NOT A VACCINE! ATTENTION!
What has always been a vaccine? It was always the pathogen itself – a microbe or virus that was killed or attenuated, that is, weakened – and it was introduced into the body in order to produce antibodies. Not even a coronavirus vaccine! It is not that at all! It is part of the newest group of mRNA (mRNA) allegedly “vaccines”. Once inside a human cell, mRNA reprograms normal RNA / DNA, which begins to make another protein.
That is, nothing to do with traditional vaccines! That is, it is an instrument of genetic influence. Genetic bioweapon! That is, they were going to destroy from earthlings, and the survivors will become GMOs! Following the unprecedented mRNA vaccine, the vaccinated will no longer be able to treat the symptoms of the vaccine in an additional way.
Vaccinated people will have to come to terms with the consequences, because they can no longer be cured by simply removing toxins from the human body, as in a person with a genetic defect such as Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome, genetic heart failure, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, Rett syndrome, etc. ), because the genetic defect is forever!
This clearly means: if a symptom of vaccination develops after mRNA vaccination, neither I nor any other therapist can help you, because DAMAGE CAUSED BY VACCINATION WILL BE GENETICALLY Irreversible.
Vaccination – Bio-weapons of genocide of the 21st century. Former Pfizer Chief Scientist Mike Yeedon has once again expressed his position that it is too late now to save those who have been injected with a substance publicly called “the Covid-19 vaccine.” He encourages those who have not yet received the lethal injection to fight for their lives, those around them and the lives of their children.
The internationally renowned immunologist goes on to describe a process that he says will kill the vast majority of people: “Immediately after the first vaccination, about 0.8% of people die within two weeks. The average life expectancy of survivors will be a maximum of two years, but it also decreases with each new “injection”.
” Additional vaccines are still being developed to cause deterioration in certain organs, including the heart, lungs and brain. After two decades at Pfizer, Professor Yedon was familiar with the functions and research and development goals of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, and states that the ultimate goal of the current “vaccination” regime can only be a massive demographic event that will make all world wars put together, like Mickey’s staging Mouse.
“Billions of people have already been sentenced to certain, inevitable and painful death. Anyone who receives the injection will die prematurely, and three years is a generous estimate of how long they can survive.”
Truth : US Supreme Court Did Not Cancel Universal Vaccination!
It’s 2022, and yet again, the US Supreme Court just “cancelled” universal vaccination for the 4th or 5th time?
Just like COVID-19 variants, alternative health / news websites keep regurgitating this fake story for page views.
Let me repeat this yet again – this is FAKE NEWS!
Let’s break down the individual claims, and tell you what the FACTS really are :
Claim : Supreme Court canceled universal vaccination in the United States Verdict : False
This claim is completely false, because the United States never mandated universal vaccination in the first place!
There is, therefore, no universal vaccination for the Supreme Court to overturn or cancel.
The government continues to have broad authority to make a vaccine mandatory during a public health crisis, as decided by the Supreme Court in their 1905 decision in Jacobson v. Massachusetts.
In 1922, the Supreme Court “settled that it is within the police power of a state to provide for compulsory vaccination” in their unanimous Zucht v. King decision.
However, compulsory or mandatory vaccination is quite different from universal vaccination.
But that Supreme Court case had nothing to do with pharmaceutical companies, Bill Gates or even Dr. Fauci.
In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that the State of New York cannot bar people from gathering in churches and synagogues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a ruling against New York’s lockdown measures, not vaccines.
I should also point out that all nine justices on the US Supreme Court were fully vaccinated by 5 May 2021, as confirmed by Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg.
Bill Gates, NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins and NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, May 2016, Photo Credit : Bill Branson
Claim : Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is A Senator Verdict : False
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is not, and has never been, a US Senator.
The writer probably confused him with his illustrious father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968.
Claim : Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Filed Supreme Court Lawsuit Verdict : False
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. never filed any lawsuit that was brought before the US Supreme Court.
In July 2019, he filed a lawsuit against the state of New York, to overturn a new state law that bars parents from refusing to vaccinate their children on religious grounds.
His family actually spoke out AGAINST him, calling him “an outlier in the Kennedy family“, and pointing out that his uncle President John F. Kennedy and his father, Robert F. Kennedy, both promoted vaccinations to stamp out preventable diseases.
He lost that lawsuit on 9 December 2019, after the New York state law was ruled constitutional.
That lawsuit was over the measles outbreak, and happened before the world first became aware of COVID-19 on 31 December 2019.
So it had NOTHING to do with COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccines.
It is physically impossible for vaccine mRNA to penetrate the cell nucleus, so it cannot possibly change the cell’s DNA.
The mRNA can only enter the cell cytoplasm, where it is taken up by the ribosomes to create the spike protein.
Vaccines based on the viral vector technology are the ones that enter the cell nucleus, but even that only affects a small number of cells, and does not become part of our DNA.
Vaccines do NOT integrate with our DNA. Vaccines will NOT turn us into GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms).
The mRNA instructions in an mRNA vaccine are automatically destroyed by the cell after use. Therefore, they can only exist for a short period of time.
As these mRNA instructions do NOT enter the cell nucleus or combine with our DNA, they cannot possibly cause “irreversible genetic changes”.
Claim : Genetic Engineering Is A Crime
Verdict : False
Genetic engineering is not a crime in any country. However, countries may set limits on what is permissible.
For example, the United States allows the genetic modification of human embryos for research purposes, but forbids its implantation without FDA’s approval.
Genetic engineering is being used to develop cures for diseases like :
acute and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
multiple myeloma
various muscular dystrophies
cystic fibrosis
cancers
There have already been a few approved gene therapies :
2003 : Gendicine was approved in China for certain cancers
2011 : Neovasculgen was approved in Russian for peripheral artery disease
2012 : Glybera was approved in the US and the US for lipoprotein lipase deficiency
Claim : mRNA Vaccine Is Not A Vaccine Verdict : False
A vaccine is simply any biological preparation that gives your body an active, acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.
The mRNA vaccine is a vaccine, even though it does not use the dead or attenuated (weakened) virus to provide the protection.
It works quite similarly to a viral vector vaccine, in that they both use our cells to create the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to trigger our body’s immune system.
Think of mRNA vaccines as instructions for your cells to make “enemy soldier puppets” for your immune system to train against.
Claim : COVID-19 Vaccines Cause Genetic Defects Verdict : False
This is complete nonsense. COVID-19 vaccines do not cause genetic defects. Genetic defects are inherited, and cannot be introduced through a vaccine.
Genetic defects are also not caused by the inability to excrete toxins, which our liver and kidneys do every single day!
Vaccines also do not prevent the human body from excreting toxins. If that actually happened, vaccinated people would die within days… which obviously, did not happen.
Claim : Vaccinated People Will Die Verdict : False
The claim by Michael Yeadon that 0.8% of people will die within 2 weeks of the first vaccination, and the rest will die within 2 years, is absolute nonsense.
Billions of people globally have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and there is no evidence of millions of people dying from the vaccines within two weeks of their first vaccination.
Frankly, if that’s true – they wouldn’t be alive to receive their second and third vaccinations, as billions of people have done.
Now that you know that this is yet another example of anti-vaccination FAKE NEWS, please SHARE this fact check with your family and friends.
Help stop the pandemic, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
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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.
Now, let me show you how to spot these scams next time!
If you spot any of these warning signs, DO NOT PROCEED and DO NOT SHARE!
Warning Sign #1 : Bad Grammar
Most of these scammers do not have a good command of the English language, so if you spot bad grammar, stay away.
This scammer even got the spelling of the brand wrong! It’s Touch ‘n Go, not Touch n’Go.
Proper contests or events sponsored by major brands like TnG eWallet will have a PR or marketing person who will vet the text before allowing it to be posted.
Warning Sign #2 : Offering You Free Money Or Gifts
Please do NOT be naive. No one is going to give you money or free gifts just to participate in a survey!
Touch ‘n Go isn’t going to give you so much FREE money, just because it’s their anniversary.
They are a corporation whose business is to make money, not a charity to give you free money.
Warning Sign #3 : Not Using The Real Domain
A genuine TNG eWallet campaign would use their real domain – www.touchngo.com.my or www.tngdigital.com.my, not di47823.shop as shown in the scam post above.
Or they would run it off the official TnG eWallet page on Facebook – www.facebook.com/touchngoewallet/.
If you see nonsensical domains like childrerdg.xyz, uglyarticle.club, ldxqw.bar, etc. that’s a sign of a SCAM!
Warning Sign #4 : Asking You To Forward The Offer
No matter how many times you “try” this scam, you will ALWAYS win the RM 2000 “prize”.
If you don’t find that odd, you should know that no brand will insist that you must share the offer with 5 groups or 20 friends on WhatsApp.
Do not click to forward their offer to your family and friends. They will not appreciate being scammed with your help!
Warning Sign #5 : Asking You To Download + Register An App
If you click through and joined the fake survey scam, you may eventually be asked to download and register for an app.
That is VERY DANGEROUS. Never agree to download and register for any unknown app from a website.
Always download your apps from an official App Store like Google Play Store (for Android smartphones) and Apple App Store (for iPhones).
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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.
Just days after going down for SIX HOURS, Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Workplace went down AGAIN!
Find out what happened!
Facebook, Instagram, Messenger + Workplace Down Again!
Just days after all of Facebook’s services went down for six hours, Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Workplace went down AGAIN!
At around 3:22 AM on 9 October 2021, they went down again… with people reporting that they were unable to log into their accounts, or send messages.
We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing our apps and products. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience.
Fortunately, this time it didn’t take down WhatsApp and it took their engineering team just under 2 hours to get those Facebook services restored.
We’re so sorry if you weren’t able to access our products during the last couple of hours. We know how much you depend on us to communicate with one another. We fixed the issue — thanks again for your patience this week.
Why Did Facebook, Instagram, Messenger + Workplace Go Down Again!
Again, Facebook blamed another faulty “configuration change” for this downtime, but did not announce any details on what actually happened.
But coming right after an extraordinarily long downtime just days earlier and public testimony by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, this new downtime may be shorter but is no less grievous.
It will feed growing opinion that Facebook has too much services under its control, and it’s dangerous and even folly to let a single company control so many social networks and communication services.
Regulators will no doubt be spurred by this new incident to look at breaking up Facebook.
EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said that the major Facebook outage highlighted the danger of relying on just a few big players, underscoring “the need for more rivals”.
Even Russia jumped into the fray, stating that Russia was right to develop its own Internet platforms and social networks.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that the recent 6-hour outage of Facebook services “answers the question of whether we need our own social networks and Internet platforms“.
We will be looking forward to Facebook Engineering’s explanation of what happened, and whether it involved cutting through doors to get to their servers…
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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.
Was Facebook taken down by a 13 year-old Chinese hacker?
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the FACTS really are!
Claim : Facebook Was Taken Down By 13 Year-Old Chinese Hacker!
On 4 October 2021, Facebook and ALL of its messaging and social media platformswent downfor about six hours, including Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram!
Several websites, as well as people on Twitter and Facebook started claiming that Facebook was taken down by a 13 year-old Chinese hacker called Sun Jisu / Sun Ji Su / Sun Jiso / Sun Ji Soo.
There are quite a number of these claims, so just SKIP to the next section for the facts!
International media claimed that “China” was behind the suspension of social media services in the world.
According to Reuters, a Chinese hacker named “Sun Jisu” is responsible for stopping the services of “Facebook”, “WhatsApp” and Instagram, and added that the Chinese hackers are only 13 years old.
The Chinese hacker “Sun Ji Su” has topped the famous search engines and Twitter platforms during the past minutes, after disabling WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook today 2021 in all countries of the world, amid questions among activists about the details of this information.
The Chinese hacker who disrupted Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram around the world. The 13-year-old boy, Sun Jisu, who hacked the three sites and also caused Facebook employees to be prevented from entering the headquarters of the global institution after disabling the electronic portals and caused an economic loss estimated at billions dollars around the world.
Reuters: A 13-year-old Chinese hacker named Sun Jiso has stopped Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram services.
The value of Facebook shares has dropped significantly due to the disruption of the global network of Instagram and WhatsApp.
#NewYorkTimes: The Facebook company refused the cyber attacks on behalf of a 13, Chinese hacker. It is not clear what the problem is with Facebook, Whatsapp, and Instagram. The Facebook company claims that we repair them soon.
Truth : Facebook Was Not Taken Down By 13 Year-Old Chinese Hacker!
The story of a 13 year-old Chinese hacker taking down Facebook is just fake news created by fake news / clickbait websites to go viral and get money through ads.
Here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : International Media Did Not Blame China
On one blamed China for the bizarre 6-hour downtime of Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger.
The international media referred to cybersecurity specialists who pointed at DNS failure as the most likely cause, not a state actor like China.
Clickbait / fake news websites intentionally added that false claim to “trigger” Chinese netizens and Sinophiles to share their fake news.
Fact #2 : Reuters + NYT Did Not Report On Any Chinese Hacker
Reuters did not report that a 13 year-old Chinese hacker called Sun Jisu was responsible for the bringing down Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger.
Neither did the New York Times write about a 13 year old hacker attacking Facebook.
These are complete lies that are easily verified with a quick check on the Reuters and New York Times websites.
Fact #3 : 13 Year-Old Sun Jisu / Sun Jiso Does Not Exist
There is no 13 year-old Chinese hacker called Sun Jisu / Sun Ji Su / Sun Ji So / Sun Ji Soo. He does NOT exist.
In addition, that is a Korean name, not Chinese – a mistake that a non-Asian person would make.
Fact #4 : That Was An Old Picture Of Wang Zhengyang
The fake news websites used a picture of Chinese hacking prodigy, Wang Zhengyang, speaking at the 2014 Chinese Internet Security Conference.
Wang Zhengyang was 13 year-old at that time, and would be 20 years old this year – 2021. Here are two more pictures of him speaking at that event.
Wang Zhengyang at 2014 Chinese Internet Security Conference
Fact #5 : Facebook Services Were Brought Down By Configuration Changes
Facebook services were not brought down by a hacker, but configuration changes their own engineering team initiated internally.
Facebook’s Vice-President of Infrastructure, Santosh Janardhan, confirmed that “configuration changes” on their “backbone routers” caused the 6-hour long failure.
Our engineering teams have learned that configuration changes on the backbone routers that coordinate network traffic between our data centers caused issues that interrupted this communication. This disruption to network traffic had a cascading effect on the way our data centers communicate, bringing our services to a halt.
Fact #6 : Access Problems Were Caused By Same Servers
Facebook run their internal systems through the same servers, so they became inaccessible when those servers were taken offline.
This included security systems that controlled the fob door locks, with a New York Times reporter tweeting that Facebook staff were unable to gain access to an unspecified office using their keycards.
However, many Facebook staff are working from home due to COVID-19 precautions, so this was only a big problem for engineers trying to gain access to the Facebook data centre in Santa Clara, California.
At no time was this security issue caused by a hacker. It was due to the same servers that went offline.
Now that you know the truth, please SHARE this fact check with your family and friends!
Also, please STOP SHARING fake stories created by fake news / clickbait websites!
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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 the 13 year-old Chinese hacker, Sun Jisu, hack Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, causing them to fail for more than 6 hours?
Take a look at the new viral claim, and find out what the FACTS really are!
Claim : 13 Year-Old Sun Jisu Hacked Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram!
On 4 October 2021, Facebook and ALL of its messaging and social media platformswent downfor about six hours, including Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram!
Some websites and people on Twitter and Facebook started claiming that the failure was due to a 13 year-old Chinese hacker called Sun Jisu / Sun Ji Su / Sun Jiso / Sun Ji Soo.
There are quite a number of these claims, so just SKIP to the next section for the facts!
International media claimed that “China” was behind the suspension of social media services in the world.
According to Reuters, a Chinese hacker named “Sun Jisu” is responsible for stopping the services of “Facebook”, “WhatsApp” and Instagram, and added that the Chinese hackers are only 13 years old.
The Chinese hacker “Sun Ji Su” has topped the famous search engines and Twitter platforms during the past minutes, after disabling WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook today 2021 in all countries of the world, amid questions among activists about the details of this information.
The Chinese hacker who disrupted Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram around the world. The 13-year-old boy, Sun Jisu, who hacked the three sites and also caused Facebook employees to be prevented from entering the headquarters of the global institution after disabling the electronic portals and caused an economic loss estimated at billions dollars around the world.
Reuters: A 13-year-old Chinese hacker named Sun Jiso has stopped Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram services.
The value of Facebook shares has dropped significantly due to the disruption of the global network of Instagram and WhatsApp.
#NewYorkTimes: The Facebook company refused the cyber attacks on behalf of a 13, Chinese hacker. It is not clear what the problem is with Facebook, Whatsapp, and Instagram. The Facebook company claims that we repair them soon.
Fact #2 : Reuters + NYT Did Not Report On Any Chinese Hacker
Reuters did not report that a 13 year-old Chinese hacker called Sun Jisu was responsible for the bringing down Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger.
Neither did the New York Times write about a 13 year old hacker attacking Facebook.
These are complete lies that are easily verified with a quick check on the Reuters and New York Times websites.
Fact #3 : 13 Year-Old Sun Jisu / Sun Ji Soo Does Not Exist
There is no 13 year-old Chinese hacker called Sun Jisu / Sun Ji Su / Sun Ji So / Sun Ji Soo. He does NOT exist.
In addition, Sun Jisu / Sun Ji Soo is a Korean name, not Chinese. This is a mistake that a non-Asian person would make.
Fact #4 : That Was An Old Picture Of Wang Zhengyang
The fake news websites used a picture of Chinese hacking prodigy, Wang Zhengyang, speaking at the 2014 Chinese Internet Security Conference.
Wang Zhengyang was 13 year-old at that time, and would be 20 years old this year – 2021. Here are two more pictures of him speaking at that event.
Wang Zhengyang at 2014 Chinese Internet Security Conference
Fact #5 : Facebook Services Were Brought Down By Configuration Changes
Facebook services were not brought down by a hacker, but configuration changes their own engineering team initiated internally.
Facebook’s Vice-President of Infrastructure, Santosh Janardhan, confirmed that “configuration changes” on their “backbone routers” caused the 6-hour long failure.
Our engineering teams have learned that configuration changes on the backbone routers that coordinate network traffic between our data centers caused issues that interrupted this communication. This disruption to network traffic had a cascading effect on the way our data centers communicate, bringing our services to a halt.
He also asserted that it was a faulty configuration change, and no user data was compromised.
Our services are now back online and we’re actively working to fully return them to regular operations. We want to make clear at this time we believe the root cause of this outage was a faulty configuration change. We also have no evidence that user data was compromised as a result of this downtime.
Fact #6 : Access Problems Were Caused By Same Servers
Facebook run their internal systems through the same servers, so they became inaccessible when those servers were taken offline.
This included security systems that controlled the fob door locks, with a New York Times reporter tweeting that Facebook staff were unable to gain access to an unspecified office using their keycards.
However, many Facebook staff are working from home due to COVID-19 precautions, so this was only a big problem for engineers trying to gain access to the Facebook data centre in Santa Clara, California.
At no time was this security issue caused by a hacker. It was due to the same servers that went offline.
Now that you know the truth, please SHARE this fact check with your family and friends!
Also, please STOP SHARING fake stories created by fake news / clickbait websites!
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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.
Facebook and ALL of its messaging and social media platforms went down for about six hours, including Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram!
Find out why they all went down at the same time, and for so long!
Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram + More DOWN!
The entire slew of messaging and social media platforms owned by Facebook was inaccessible for about six hours, including :
Facebook
Facebook Messenger
WhatsApp
Instagram
Oculus
Workplace
The failure also extended to Facebook authentication, which you may be using to log into third-party apps and games, with Pokemon Go and Match Master gamers have reported problems logging in.
This left Twitter as the only major social media network still up and running, which is ironic since it became the only way for Facebook to reach out to the world…
To the huge community of people and businesses around the world who depend on us: we're sorry. We’ve been working hard to restore access to our apps and services and are happy to report they are coming back online now. Thank you for bearing with us.
This massive outage couldn’t come at a worse time for Facebook, whose stock slumped about 5.5% after former employee and whistleblower, Frances Haugen, leaked internal documents to the Wall Street Journal.
She also accused her former firm of repeatedly and knowingly allowing the proliferation of hate speech and misinformation for profit. Really tough times for Team Zuckerberg indeed…
Even Edward Snowden chimed in, saying that the world has become a healthier place for one shining day…
Facebook and Instagram go mysteriously offline and, for one shining day, the world becomes a healthier place. #facebookdown
Why Did Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc. Go DOWN?
This massive, unprecedented GLOBAL outage appears to be caused by a DNS (Domain Name Server) failure.
The DNS service “translates” the plaintext link we use (www.facebook.com for example) into its actual numerical IP address (123.123.123.123 for example), allowing your app or browser to connect to the right server.
Without a working DNS service, no one is able to connect to any Facebook-owned service because the Internet no longer knows how to locate the right server.
CloudFlare senior vice-president Dane Knecht shared that the Facebook BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) routes have been “withdrawn from the Internet”, causing failure to connect through CloudFlare’s DNS service.
. @Facebook DNS and other services are down. It appears their BGP routes have been withdrawn from the internet. @Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 started seeing high failure in last 20mins.
This was likely due to a configuration error on Facebook’s side, but coming one day after the story broke on Frances Haugen? It would be folly to rule out internal sabotage or a rush to remove some controversial features before she testified to the US Congress.
The conspiracy theory that it was a DDOS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attack by Anonymous or some vigilante group is really farfetched. It would require an incredible amount of resources and coordination to not only bring down Facebook, but all the other services as well… at the same time!
Facebook’s Vice-President of Infrastructure, Santosh Janardhan, later confirmed that “configuration changes” on their “backbone routers” caused the 6-hour long failure.
Our engineering teams have learned that configuration changes on the backbone routers that coordinate network traffic between our data centers caused issues that interrupted this communication. This disruption to network traffic had a cascading effect on the way our data centers communicate, bringing our services to a halt.
He also asserted that it was a faulty configuration change, and no user data was compromised.
Our services are now back online and we’re actively working to fully return them to regular operations. We want to make clear at this time we believe the root cause of this outage was a faulty configuration change. We also have no evidence that user data was compromised as a result of this downtime.
While he blamed “the underlying cause” for impacting their ability. to “quickly diagnose and resolve the problem”, it is notable that it took Facebook engineering teams more than 6 hours to resolve a DNS failure.
It is now believed that the changes were made to Facebook’s Border Gateway Protocol, a mechanism that exchanges routing information to help figure out the fastest route for any request.
Apparently, the changes “withdrew” Facebook services from the DNS system, making it impossible for anyone to connect to them.
Even worse, Facebook ran their own systems through the same servers, so everything from engineering tool, messaging services and even security systems that controlled the key fob locks were no longer accessible.
So their engineering team had to rush to their data centres to manually reset the servers there.
Needless to say, this will be a big wake-up call for their engineering teams, and in the words of Russell Peters – “Somebody’s gonna get a hurt real bad!”
It is also a big wake-up call for everyone using Facebook services. This massive outage is a reminder that we should NOT put all our eggs in one basket.
I believe it will at least temporarily spur the adoption of alternative messaging services like Telegram and Signal. Even Twitter should see a nice boost in Tweets and maybe new users.
Now, I’m not into conspiracy theories… but what are the odds of this failure happening just one day after Frances Haugen came out publicly against Facebook, and a day before she was set to testify before the US Congress?
Could these “configuration changes” be designed to remove some controversial features before Haugen’s testimony to the US Congress?
Could Facebook’s own engineering team have accidentally triggered the failure in their rush to remove those controversial features before she testified?
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.
Are scammers sending fake SMS messages from KKM and MySejahtera to scam you out of your money?
Take a look at the viral post, and find out what the FACTS really are!
Claim : KKM + MySejahtera SMS Messages Are Fake!
People have been sharing a screenshot of two SMS messages from KKM (Malaysia Ministry of Health) and MySejahtera, claiming that they are scam messages.
RM0 MySejahtera: You are COVID-19 positive. Kindly refresh your MySejahtera Profile and click to declare your close contact: https://bit.ly/3jNvOqL
RM0 KKM Anda adlh COVID19 positif & masih belum menjawab status kesihatan hari ini. Segera lengkapkan H.A.T. di MySejahtera. Rujuk https://bit.ly/2VMaWrC
This is a scam. If receive don’t click. Please inform all ur family members and friends ….NETIZEN WATCHDOG
Many also include a link to the Kuan Evening Edition video to prove that these messages are indeed fake messages used by scammers in “phishing attacks”.
Truth : KKM + MySejahtera SMS Messages Are Legit!
The SMS messages in the screenshot are legit, and came from KKM and MySejahtera.
The truth is that viral message is FAKE NEWS, and here are the facts…
Fact #1 : The MySejahtera SMS Message Is Legitimate
The MySejahtera SMS message in English is legitimate. It warns you that you have tested positive for COVID-19.
You are therefore required to declare your close contacts in the MySejahtera app or website.
On 24 September 2021, KKM confirmed that the 03-2703-3000 telephone number is genuine.
The Malaysia Ministry of Health uses that telephone number to call those identified as COVID-19 positive to fill up their Home Assessment Tool (HAT) in the MySejahtera app.
Fact #3 : The KKM SMS Message Is Legitimate
The KKM SMS message in Bahasa Malaysia is also legitimate.
It is a reminder that you did not fill in your Home Assessment Tool (HAT) in the MySejahtera app today.
Those who are under home quarantine must complete that home assessment test every day.
The Ministry of Health may issue a compound if you fail to perform the home assessment test, as required.
The infographic explains who needs to perform self-monitoring using the HAT feature, and how to do it in the MySejahtera app.
Now that you know the truth, please SHARE this fact check, so your family and friends won’t be fooled by the fake news!
It is critical that everyone understands that these alerts are genuine, and take them seriously!
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.
Should we blame Joe Biden for the fall of Vietnam in 1975, as well as the disastrous Afghanistan evacuation?
Find out what’s the new viral claim, and what the FACTS really are!
Claim : President Ford Blamed Joe Biden For Vietnam Disaster
Ever since the American evacuation of Afghanistan turned into the complete and utter collapse of the Afghan government, people have been claiming that it is a repeat of Vietnam.
I had earlier fact checked the viral claim that then Senator Joe Biden unilaterally blocked President Ford’s Vietnam evacuation.
On the same day, Jeffrey Lord of The America Spectator wrote a piece claiming that President Gerald Ford blamed Senator Joe Biden for the collapse of the South Vietnamese government in 1975.
It’s pretty long, so just skip to the next section for the FACTS…
Somewhere the late President Gerald Ford is shaking his head.
It was Gerald Ford, famously President Richard Nixon’s number two, who took over the presidency when Watergate forced Nixon’s resignation. Which in turn put Ford in charge of winding down the Vietnam War, building on a negotiated settlement that Nixon and his national security adviser Henry Kissinger had reached with the North Vietnamese. The Paris Peace accords were signed in January of 1973, ending all U.S. combat activities.
But eventually, with U.S. combat troops departed, the war resumed. And Democrats were determined to shoot down all funding for the South Vietnamese — period.
In a highly unusual move, the Democrats who ran the Senate Foreign Relations Committee demanded a meeting with Ford at the White House. The last time a president had a formal meeting with the Committee was in 1919, a full 56 years earlier, when President Woodrow Wilson met with the Committee to push his post-World War One League of Nations proposal.
The April, 1975 meeting with Ford and the Committee was, Ford writes in his memoirs A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford, “extremely tense.” Ford quite specifically mentions the presence of the freshman Senator from Delaware — Joe Biden. The discussion became focused on getting out not only the remaining Americans in the country, but the Vietnamese who had been such loyal help to the Americans. Joe Biden would have none of the latter.
“I will vote for any amount for getting the Americans out,” Ford writes of Biden’s words. But “I don’t want it mixed with getting the Vietnamese out.”
Ford was incredulous. Biden and his fellow Democrats were insisting on cutting off the funding that would help our Vietnamese allies.
Biden and his colleagues would have none of it. Democrats refused to provide any additional funds for the South Vietnamese. And exactly as Ford predicted, chaos descended. He writes: “Four days later, (South Vietnamese) President Thieu resigned and fled the country.”
Communist forces descended on Saigon, the moment famously captured in that photo of an American helicopter attempting to take off from the roof of the U.S. Embassy as frantic Vietnamese tried to grab on to the helicopter skids and be transported out to sea and a waiting American aircraft carrier.
As President Ford makes clear, Joe Biden voted to, in Ford’s words, “cut and run” from Vietnam. Biden blithely ignored Ford’s warnings of chaos and disaster if funding were cut off — and those warnings proved to be dead-on accurate.
All of which is to say, this is the way Joe Biden thinks. It is actions just like his actions on Vietnam and now on Afghanistan that would years after the Vietnam debacle cause former Bush and Obama Secretary of Defense Bob Gates to say of Biden in his own memoirs that Biden had “been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”
Now, a full 46 years after selling out the South Vietnamese, Biden is selling out Afghanistan in precisely the same fashion. But this time as president himself. And in classic Biden style he has been wrong yet again on a major foreign policy and national security issue.
Truth : Joe Biden Cannot Be Blamed For Fall Of Vietnam
With the Afghanistan evacuation crisis still unfolding, it may seem odd to suddenly blame President Joe Biden for the fall of Vietnam. After all, that happened 46 years ago!
The truth is – Joe Biden is not to blame for the fall of the South Vietnamese government in 1975, leading to the infamous helicopter evacuation from the roof of the American embassy in Saigon.
The fake story is being promoted to convey the narrative that the fall of the Afghan government is also Joe Biden’s fault. He did it back in 1975, and he just did it again in 2021.
That is demonstrably FALSE, and these fake news creators know it. However, they are counting on you to simply accept their word, and not to verify the facts yourself.
Here is a quick summary of the facts :
South Vietnam would have fallen anyway, even if the US Congress gave President Ford the $722 million he asked for, to continue the war.
The entire Senate Foreign Relations Committee met with President Gerald Ford, not only the Democrats.
Joe Biden was against spending additional money on military assistance and the continued use of US troops.
Joe Biden was a first-term Senator at that time, and only one of 16 Senators to vote against the funding request.
The US Senate nevertheless approved the funding, but it was rejected by the House of Representatives.
The deal to withdraw US and allied troops from Afghanistan was negotiated and approved by the Trump Administration in February 2020.
The US-Taliban Agreement originally required all US and allied forces to depart Afghanistan by May 2021.
President Biden agreed to follow through with the US-Taliban Agreement with a delayed withdrawal date of 31 August 2021.
For those who want the nitty, gritty details, here are the details behind those facts…
Fact #1 : South Vietnam Would Have Fallen Anyway
When President Gerald Ford asked the US Congress for $722 million to continue the Vietnam war, North Vietnamese forces had already reached Xuân Lộc, the last line of defence before Saigon.
Xuân Lộc would fall on 20 April, allowing Saigon to be encircled by 27 April. The city fell and the South Vietnamese government capitulated on 30 April 1975.
In hindsight, it is obvious that the South Vietnamese government would have fallen, even if the US Congress gave President Ford the $722 million he asked for…
Fact #2 : President Ford Met With Entire Senate Foreign Relations Committee
The entire Senate Foreign Relations Committee demanded a face-to-face discussion with President Ford, which took place on 14 April 1975.
It wasn’t just Democrat senators who asked for the meeting, it was also Republican senators.
You can read the entire transcript of that meeting here.
Fact #3 : Joe Biden Was Against Military Aid + Use Of US Troops
The American Spectator intentionally quoted a small section of what then Senator Biden said during the meeting with President Ford, to convey the perception that he did not want to help evacuate the Vietnamese.
The truth was he was against funding additional military aid to the falling South Vietnamese government, and the continued use of US troops.
Here was what Senator Joe Biden said at the meeting, in its entirety :
What concerns us is that a week ago Habib told us we would be formulating a plan. A week has gone by and nothing has happened. We should focus on getting them out. Getting the Vietnamese out and military aid for the GVN are totally different.
I feel put upon in being presented an all or nothing number. I don’t want to have to vote to buy it all or not at all. I am not sure I can vote for an amount to put American troops in for one to six months to get the Vietnamese out. I will vote for any amount for getting the Americans out. I don’t want it mixed with getting the Vietnamese out.
I don’t want to commit myself to any precise number. How much money depends on how many we try to get out.
Fact #4 : Joe Biden Was One of 16 Senators To Vote Against Additional Funding
Senator Joe Biden ultimately voted against the Vietnam Contingency Act (S. 1484) when it was proposed in the US Senate, because he disagreed with two terms in the bill :
military assistance to Vietnam
authorisation to use American troops (if necessary) to protect the evacuation of South Vietnamese citizens.
Specifically, he was against the Ford Administration tying military assistance to Vietnam and the continued use of US troops, with the evacuation of American and Vietnamese civilians.
He was worried that $100 million of contingency funds in this bill would be used to provide military aid, instead of helping to evacuate the refugees.
Fact #5 : US House of Representatives Rejected Funding Request
Senator Joe Biden’s Nay vote was pointless – the US Senate approved the funding request with a 75-17 vote on 24 April 1975.
However, it was rejected by the House of Representatives in a vote of 162 to 246 on 1 May 1975.
Not that it mattered – Saigon and the South Vietnamese government had already fallen by then – on 30 April 1975.
No matter how you slice and dice it, Senator Joe Biden’s vote and comments during his meeting with President Ford had no material effect on the Vietnam War, or its disastrous conclusion.
Fact #5 : US-Taliban Agreement Was Negotiated + Approved By Trump Administration
At that time, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted that the Trump Administration was “seizing the best opportunity for peace in a generation.”
The US-Taliban Agreement had two “interconnected guarantees” :
the withdrawal of all US and international forces by May 2021, and
unspecified Taliban action to prevent other groups (including Al Qaeda) from using Afghan soil to threaten the United States and its allies.
Fact #6 : President Biden Opted To Go Ahead With The US-Taliban Agreement
President Joe Biden had the option of renegotiating the US-Taliban Agreement, but that would have meant sending in more US troops to gain additional negotiating leverage over the Taliban.
That would have risked attacks on US and allied troops during the coming spring fighting season, and more casualties amongst both the military and civilians.
“The choice I had to make, as your president, was either to follow through on that agreement or be prepared to go back to fighting the Taliban in the middle of the spring fighting season,” Biden said.
He ultimately decided to go ahead with the withdrawal, with a delayed deadline of 31 August 2021.
Now that you know the truth, please SHARE THIS OUT so other people won’t get fooled by the fake viral claim!
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.
Now, let me show you how to spot these scams next time!
If you spot any of these warning signs, DO NOT PROCEED and DO NOT SHARE!
Warning Sign #1 : Bad Grammar
Most of these scammers do not have a good command of the English language, so if you spot bad grammar, stay away.
Proper contests or events sponsored by major brands like Jaya Grocer will have a PR or marketing person who will vet the text before allowing it to be posted.
Warning Sign #2 : Offering You Free Money Or Gifts
Please do NOT be naive. No one is going to give you money or free gifts just to participate in a survey!
Jaya Grocer isn’t going to give you FREE money, just because it’s their anniversary.
They are a corporation whose business is to make money, not a charity to give you free money.
Warning Sign #3 : Not Using The Real Jaya Grocer Domain
A genuine Jaya Grocer campaign would use their real domain – www.jayagrocer.com.
Or they would run it off the official Jaya Grocer page on Facebook – www.facebook.com/jayagrocer/.
If you see nonsensical domains like uglyarticle.club, ldxqw.bar, etc. that’s a sign of a SCAM!
Warning Sign #4 : Asking You To Forward The Offer
No brand will insist that you must share the offer with 5 groups or 20 friends on WhatsApp.
Do not click to forward their offer to your family and friends. They will not appreciate being scammed with your help!
Warning Sign #5 : Asking You To Download + Register An App
If you click through and joined the fake survey scam, you will eventually be asked to download and register for an app.
That is VERY DANGEROUS. Never agree to download and register for any unknown app from a website.
Always download your apps from an official App Store like Google Play Store (for Android smartphones) and Apple App Store (for iPhones).
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.
Did giant tsunami waves hit the second Penang bridge – the Sultan Abdul Muadzam Shah Bridge?
Find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2021-08-22 : Updated parts of the article, and the fact check video.
Originally posted @ 2020-12-02
Claim : Giant Tsunami Waves Hit Second Penang Bridge!
A video claiming to show the Second Penang Bridge getting hit by giant tsunami waves, is going viral on social media… again!
Giant tsunami waves hit Penang 2nd bridge at 6.00pm yesterday!
Dramatically, a person appeared to be swept away by a giant wave, and a motorcyclist quickly fled another giant wave!
Here is my video fact check video of two examples I found so far…
Truth : Tsunami Waves Did NOT Hit Second Penang Bridge!
This is yet another example of fake news spreading like COVID-19 on social media.
The video is genuine, but it does NOT show giant tsunami waves hitting the Second Penang Bridge.
Fact #1 : This Bridge Is Too Small To Be Second Penang Bridge
In the main span, the Second Penang Bridge has a height clearance of 30 metres for ships to pass under. The bulk of the bridge has a much lower 6 metre clearance.
The Second Penang Bridge is also very wide – between 150 and 250 metres, with 4 car lanes and 2 motorcycle lanes.
The bridge in the video appears to be much shorter, with a 4 metre clearance; and much narrower with just 2 lanes.
Fact #2 : No Report Of Any Tsunami Affecting Penang
There have been no earthquakes nearby, or reports of any tsunami affecting Penang.
The waves appear to be approximately 12-15 metres high, and would have been big news. Yet there is no mention of it in the mainstream media. Very sus, no?
Fact #3 : It Was An Old Video
This video went viral earlier in July 2020, when it was posted as evidence of a tsunami hitting a bridge in Alaska after an earthquake there. However, that was false as well.
The earliest we could find was a December 2017 tweet by a CNBC-AWAAZ anchor, Deepali Rana, who claimed that it was a video of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. That was also false!
Fact #4 : The Video Was Recorded On Minicoy Island
The video was recorded on 23 August 2017, showing giant waves hitting the Eastern Jetty at Minicoy Island (Maliku), in Lakshadweep, India.
It is a much smaller structure than the second Penang bridge, or the Bandar-Worli Sea Link bridge.
Here is a picture of the Eastern Embarkation Jetty, with a surfer for size comparison.
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 watch out for the COVID-19 Relief Fund by Federal Government scam!
Find out why it is just aSCAM, and WARN your family and friends!
Scam Alert : COVID-19 Relief Fund By Federal Government!
People are now sharing this COVID-19 RELIEF FUND message on WhatsApp :
Apply For The Covid-19 Relief Fund Provided By The Federal Government. Hurry Up, It takes few seconds to apply. Dont [sic] miss this opportunity.
Apply Here
Note : I added the Scam Alert overlay to prevent it from being further abused.
COVID-19 Relief Fund : Why This Is A Scam
I know many of us are in dire straits during this COVID-19 pandemic, having lost jobs, income or even loved ones. Unfortunately, scammers are counting on our desperation to prey on us.
I will now show you why this COVID-19 Relief Fund message is just another scam. Please warn your family and friends!
Fact #1 : No Global Relief Fund By Any Federal Government
When a scam tells you that “the federal government” is giving away money, you should always ask yourself – WHICH federal government???
No government in the world is giving away money to anyone across the world. Not even the three richest economies in the world – US, China and the EU – have a COVID-19 relief fund to give money away like that.
Fact #2 : The Three Questions Are A Red Herring
Most of these scams employ simple but useless questions to trick you into thinking that this is genuine. Look at the three questions this scam is asking :
What’s your age range?
How much money do you want to receive?
What’s your employment status?
In a real government relief programme, your eligibility status will be based on some official document – your identity card, driver’s licence, passport, etc.
No one is going to give you money simply because you answer a few questions. And NO ONE is ever going to ask you how much you want to receive!
Fact #3 : No Government Will Ask You To Invite Friends / Groups
A real government relief programme will NEVER ask you to invite friends and groups on WhatsApp, much less insist that you invite 15 friends or 5 groups before they give you money.
That’s a dead giveaway that this is a scam, and the scammers want you to help them scam other people. So NEVER invite your friends to join the scam.
Fact #4 : SNF Global Relief Initiative Is Not By Any Federal Government
To make the scam look legit, the scammers used the SNF Global Relief Initiative for the COVID-19 Pandemic graphics.
That initiative is not by any government, but by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
And just in case you are wondering, no, the SNF does not give away money to individuals. They only make grants to non-profit organisations and collaborative funds.
Fact #5 : The Domain Is New + Protected
If you check the domain “relief-fund.live“, you will see that it was only created on 24 March 2021.
Even more suspiciously, all contact and ownership details have been REDACTED FOR PRIVACY. That’s often a sign that the owners are worried about being sued or prosecuted.
Registry Expiration: 2022-03-24 11:41:35 UTC
Updated: 2021-03-29 11:42:31 UTC
Created: 2021-03-24 11:41:35 UTC
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Fact #6 : The Comments Are Completely Faked
You may notice a bunch of comments at the bottom of the scam website. They are only there to trick you into thinking that other people received the money.
Try refreshing them. They will never change, unlike a real live comment stream. The time codes will not change either.
Try clicking on the Like option. Nothing will happen. Your Like will not register.
That’s because this is a fake comment stream. It’s all hardcoded and fixed.
Now that you know that this is just another scam, please warn your family and friends.
And please remember – no one gives away money like that. Don’t fall for these scams!
Help Support My Work!
If you would like to support my work, you can do so via bank transfer / PayPal / credit card.
Name : Adrian Wong
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Pictures of a Chinese Communist Revolution Monument in Penang have gone viral, with calls from netizens to TEAR IT DOWN!
Find out what’s going on, and what the facts really are!
Claim : DAP Created A Communist Monument In Penang!
Pictures of a Chinese Communist Revolution Monument in Penang are being shared on Facebook and social media, with messages like this (translated into English) :
DAP created a Communist monument in Penang after they took power.
Communist monument on Flag Hill in Penang.
What are you waiting for? When are you going to tear it down?
Do You Know?
In Penang, there is a World War II memorial called the Revolution Memorial.
But it’s full of Chinese letters and the figures are all dressed as Communists.
There is absolutely no information in English or Bahasa Melayu, much less Tamil.
When people say it’s racist, [you get] angry
This monument was built as soon as DAP took over Penang from Gerakan.
Here is a selection of comments that were posted with that misleading picture, showing how it instigates hate and racial tensions :
Roboh kan semuanya,, pulau Pinang ialah tanah Melayu,,jgn lupa tu,, DAP memang haprak
Demolish it all. Penang is Malay soil. Don’t forget that. DAP is useless.
DAP are traitors, enemies of the Malays, enemies of Islam.
Robohkan Tugu peringatan pembunuh anak anak peribumi Melayu. kenapa di iarkan sebegitu rupa di mana anguta dan bekas angguta keselamatan kita boleh biarkan sebegitu rupa…Letupkan !
Destroy the memorial of the killers of Malay natives. Why is it being left like that? How can our security forces let this be? Blow it up!
Communist Revolution Monument In Penang : The Truth
The short version is this – the monument in the pictures exists, but it is neither a Communist monument, nor was it created or built by DAP.
All of the claims about it in the incendiary posts above are FALSE.
We would like to warn everyone to be careful of political fake news being shared to incite hatred and racial tensions.
Fact #1 : That Is The Penang Overseas Chinese Anti-War Memorial
The monument in the picture is the Penang Overseas Chinese Anti-War Memorial Park, also known as the Air Itam War Memorial Park.
It is NOT a Chinese Communist Revolution Monument.
There are two key monuments at this memorial park :
a bronze-coloured army supply truck being pushed by three men – memorialising the Nanyang transport volunteers from Malaya, who helped deliver supplies to China when they were blocked by the Japanese.
a 45-foot tall white obelisk that commemorates the Marco Polo Incident, that kicked off the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945.
The ashes of some 800 incomplete skeletons of Penang Chinese residents who died under Japanese occupation, and the Nanyang transport volunteers who died, are also buried under the obelisk.
The truck also has a number plate with the date 1939 on it. Communist China didn’t exist in 1939, so claims that this is a Communist monument is… idiotic.
Fact #2 : It Was Built In 1946 And Opened In 1951
Construction on the Penang Overseas Chinese Anti-War Memorial Park started in 1946, and it was officially opened in 1951.
DAP was only formed on 11 October 1965, so the claim that it was built when DAP gained power in Penang is false.
Because the People’s Republic of China was only established in 1949, the claim that this is a communist revolution monument is idiotic.
It is also extremely stupid to claim that the figures were dressed as Chinese Communists, because Communist China didn’t exist when the monument was being built!
Fact #3 : It Was Privately Funded
The original Penang Overseas Chinese Anti-War Memorial Park was funded entirely by the Penang China Relief Fund, a Penang-based private fundraising organisation.
It was officially opened at 11 AM on 11 November 1951 by Penang Chinese tycoon and philanthropist, Lim Lean Teng, who was the supervisory chairman of the organisation.
After the Penang China Relief Fund was dissolved in 1952, the Kong Min School was entrusted to maintain the memorial with an annual budget of $5,000, and an annual memorial service.
Fact #4 : It Was Upgraded For Its 60th Anniversary
The Board of Trustees of the Kong Min School decided to repair and upgrade the memorial to coincide with its 60th anniversary.
The RM 400,000 project also added a 60 foot-long wall relief showing Malayan transport volunteers on the Burma-China road, and a peace column with flying doves.
On top of private donations by various organisations and individuals, the Penang state government also chipped in.
When it was opened at precisely 11:11 AM on 11 November 2016 by Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, politicians from both sides of the political divide attended the launch.
Therefore, the claim that no one knew about it, or that it was only something DAP would do, is categorically FALSE.
Photo Credit : The Sun Daily
Fact #5 : There Is Information In FOUR Languages
The memorial park has information in four languages – English, Bahasa Melayu, Chinese and Japanese.
Here is the information panel in English and Bahasa Melayu, proving that the claim there is no information in both languages are FALSE.
Help Support My Work!
If you would like to support my work, you can do so via bank transfer / PayPal / credit card.
Name : Adrian Wong
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Was Indian journalist, Pragya Mishra, murdered in broad daylight after criticising the Kumbh Mela festival for causing the catastrophic COVID-19 surge?
Find out what the viral video of her murder showed, and what the FACTS really are!
Claim : Pragya Mishra Killed In Broad Daylight Over COVID-19 Comments!
Two videos and a photo are going viral on WhatsApp, claiming that Indian journalist Pragya Mishra was killed in broad daylight after she criticised the recent Kumbh Mela festival in India for causing the catastrophic surge in COVID-19.
The first video showed the news segment in which Pragya Mishra talked about the Kumbh Mela and the COVID-19 tsunami.
The second video was CCTV footage showing a woman getting stabbed by a man in broad daylight.
The videos are accompanied by one or two pictures showing the woman lying in a pool of blood, with one of these messages :
An Indian broadcaster who spoke against unhealthy Hindu gatherings and the spread of Corona disease was assassinated publicly.
Pragya mishra murdered in broad daylight
Because she was talking in news about kumbh mela in the era of cornavirus
No! Pragya Mishra Was NOT Killed Over COVID-19 Comments!
This is yet another COVID-19 related hoax. Pragya Mishra is alive and well.
It has been suggested that the fake news was created as a kind of warning to Pragya Mishra – watch what you are saying about Hindus and the Kumbh Mela, or else…
That is something we cannot prove, but here are the facts that we can prove…
Fact #1 : Pragya Mishra Is Alive And Well
These videos and photos first circulated on or just before 18 April 2021.
At that time, Pragya Mishra was at home because of “COVID-19 protocols”. When she was informed about the videos and photos, she tweeted that she was safe.
As of 30 April 2021, she’s still active on her Twitter account, @PragyaLive.
Fact #2 : Second Video Was Of A Real Murder
Unfortunately, the second video is genuine, and shows the murder of a real woman on 10 April 2021.
It was not Pragya Mishra, but a 26 year-old lady called Neelu Mehta, who worked at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.
She was stabbed and murdered in broad daylight by her husband, Harish Mehta, an employee of the Marriage Bureau.
Allegedly, he suspected his newly-wed wife of eight months of infidelity, and stabbed her to death. Even after she died, he continued stabbing her.
Sadly, no one intervened or tried to help her.
Help Support My Work!
If you would like to support my work, you can do so via bank transfer / PayPal / credit card.
Name : Adrian Wong
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
