Tag Archives: MCMC

Malaysia reverses decision to block public DNS servers!

Malaysia just reversed its controversial decision to block use of public DNS servers using DNS redirection! Here is what you need to know…

Malaysia orders DNS redirection, affecting consumers too!

According to an FAQ posted by Maxis, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has ordered all Internet service providers in Malaysia to implement DNS redirection for businesses, governments, and enterprises by 30 September 2024.

DNS redirection basically blocks the use of public DNS servers, by redirecting DNS queries to the ISP’s own DNS servers, where certain websites can be blocked by government directive. In other words – DNS redirection prevents people from circumventing the ISP’s own DNS servers (and the government’s block list).

The Maxis FAQ, which is titled Maxis Business DNS Redirection, states that ISPs in Malaysia were ordered to implement DNS redirection for business/enterprise/government users, blocking their access to public DNS servers.

However, it now appears that the directive actually applied to everyone in Malaysia, not just business, enterprise, or government users!

Malaysia reverses DNS Redirection decision!

After news broke that MCMC quietly ordered Internet service providers to implement DNS redirection in Malaysia, there was a public outcry, and people started looking up ways to bypass it.

The public outrage proved too much for the Malaysian government, and it backtracked on that controversial decision. On Sunday, 8 September 2024, Malaysia Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that he asked MCMC not to proceed with its DNS redirection directive.

… considering the feedback received through a series of engagements with @MCMC_RASMI and the public, I have requested that MCMC not proceed with the implementation of the Domain Name System (DNS) management redirection method.

At the same time, MCMC will continue its engagement series with all stakeholders to gather views, suggestions, and recommendations to ensure that the goal of a safer internet can be collectively achieved.

With that, Malaysia officially reversed its DNS Redirection decision within days of the news breaking.

There is no doubt that this reversal was due to many Malaysian netizens who spoke up against the controversial decision to hijack access to public DNS servers. So kudos to everyone who spoke up.

It is encouraging to see that public dissent can still force the government of the day to reverse controversial directives. But perhaps the government can avoid such controversies in the future by getting feedback from the public before quietly issuing controversial directives.

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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.

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Did Malaysia just block use of public DNS servers?!

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Did MCMC just block the use of public DNS servers in Malaysia?! Here is what we know so far…

MCMC blocks public DNS servers only for business and government?

However, it now appears that the directive may actually apply to everyone in Malaysia, not just business, enterprise, or government users. Or the ISPs may be implementing the directive across the board. Here is what we know so far…

Public DNS servers appear to be blocked in Malaysia!

As far as I can tell, MCMC has not officially announced its DNS redirection order to ISPs. All we are relying on so far is the Maxis FAQ on DNS redirection, which suggested that it applied only to businesses, enterprises, and government agencies.

Why is DNS redirection being implemented for Enterprise/Business/Government services?

DNS redirection is being implemented to assist in preventing the commission or attempted commission of an offence under any written laws of Malaysia or otherwise in enforcing the laws of Malaysia. By blocking access to harmful websites more effectively and quickly, this proactive measure helps ensure compliance. This is particularly important for Enterprise/Business/Government, as it will also reduce the risk of reputational damage and inadvertent commission of offence.

However, the Maxis FAQ also states, in a different section, that “all service providers must implement this measure, and it applies to to all users of their services“, our emphasis in bold below:

The implementation of DNS redirection is a regulatory requirement enforced by MCMC to ensure compliance with Malaysian laws and to protect users from harmful online content. All service providers must implement this measure, and it applies to all users of their services.

If that’s accurate, then the MCMC directive to block the use of public DNS servers may apply to consumer users as well, not just business, enterprise, or government users.

Regular Internet users in Malaysia have started reporting (here, here) that they are no longer able to use public DNS servers from Google or Cloudflare.

The affected ISPs so far appear to be Telekom Malaysia (Unifi), Time, and Maxis. Digi and Celcom appear to be unaffected … so far.

We tested on Unifi and Digi Broadband, and confirmed that we cannot connect to Google DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1). You can test it out yourself using these methods:

Using any Internet browser

Using any Internet browser, just go to the Cloudflare public DNS website – https://1.1.1.1/, which will appear in your Internet browser as https://one.one.one.one/.

But if your ISP has implemented DNS redirect, both domains are no longer accessible. Our tests on Friday, 6 September 2024 show:

Unifi : Unable to connect
Digi Broadband : Connects normally

Using Traceroute / Tracert

For the more technically-inclined, you can try using traceroute (macOS / Linux) or tracert (Windows), to see if your computer can connect to your preferred public DNS server – for example, 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google).

It’s pointless to use ping, because pings to the public DNS server IP will get redirected to the ISP’s own DNS server, and you will still get a response.

Using traceroute to connect to 8.8.8.8, our tests on Friday, 6 September 2024 show:

Unifi : Redirected

192.168.0.1 (192.168.0.1)
jhb-113-254-tm.net.my (203.106.113.254)
10.55.52.54 (10.55.52.54)
10.55.52.90 (10.55.52.90)
10.55.52.54 (10.55.52.54)
10.19.129.65 (10.19.129.65)

Digi Broadband : Not redirected

192.168.1.1 (192.168.1.1)
172.16.136.1 (172.16.136.1)
115.164.8.106 (115.164.8.106)
72.14.243.96 (72.14.243.96)
dns.google (8.8.8.8)

As you can see, the traceroute showed that requests to Google DNS (8.8.8.8) on the Unifi network were routed to a Telekom Malaysia server (10.19.129.65) instead.

On the other hand, the same requests on the Digi Broadband network still get routed to Google DNS (8.8.8.8) as intended.

So it does appear that some Internet service providers in Malaysia have started to block access to public DNS servers by redirecting DNS queries to their own DNS servers. However, it is uncertain if MCMC actually ordered those ISPs to implement DNS redirection for consumers.

The blocking of public DNS servers will not matter to people who don’t know how to use these public DNS servers. But it will matter a lot to Malaysian netizens who want to use public DNS servers for faster performance, better privacy and security, as well as bypass government censorship. Some will inevitably see this as a step towards China’s Great Firewall.

While the goal of blocking dangerous or scam websites is admirable, that is already served by existing bans of those websites on the ISP level for regular users. People who are tech-savvy enough to configure their computers to use public DNS servers would know better than to fall for those websites.

Hopefully, MCMC only issued that DNS redirection directive for business/enterprise/government users, and Malaysian ISPs will roll back the implementation for consumers.

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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.

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Malaysia To Ban SMS With Personal Details!

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Telcos in Malaysia will soon ban SMS messages with personal information, as part of the MCMC’s initiative to prevent scams! Here is what you need to know!

Malaysia To Ban SMS With Personal Details!

On Sunday, 2 July 2023, four Malaysian telcos – Maxis, Celcom, Digital and U Mobile will ban SMS messages containing personal information , as part of the MCMC’s initiative to prevent scams.

In addition to the May ban of SMS links, both local and international users will be prevented from sending any SMS message containing:

personal details
mobile or fixed line phone number
banking details like account number
MyKad number

All SMS messages containing these forbidden items will not be blocked, but their senders won’t be charged for those blocked messages.

No Ban For SMS With Personal Details Via Short Codes

It should be noted that this ban on SMS messages with personal details do NOT apply to businesses using legitimate Enterprise short codes. They will still be allowed to issue SMS messages with URLs (links), phone numbers, and personal details.

Here are the current Enterprise short codes for Celcom and DIGI, from which you “may” continue to receive SMS messages with hyperlinks (URLs) and personal information.

Telco	Enterprise Short Codes
Celcom	CelcomDigi / EASYRELOAD Celcom / CELCOM 2000 / 2901 / 20000 / 78888 28888 / 28882 / 22288 / 28282 / 22888 2001 / 22002 / 22009 / 21888 / 22022 / 22033 / 22162 / 22244 / 22262 / 22990 / 23000 / 23222 / 23777 / 25000 / 25555 / 26664 / 26668 / 26674 / 26680 / 26699 / 27100 / 27200 / 27999 / 28000 / 29888 / 29992 / 29999 / 39131 / 39140 / 39146 / 39170 / 39172 / 39230 / 39231 / 39240 / 39254 / 39258 / 39281 / 39291 / 39442 / 39466 / 39470 / 39471 / 39496 / 39504 / 39505 / 39506 / 39509 / 39513 / 39514 / 39515 / 39518 / 39881 / 39437 / 39132 / 39133 / 39144 / 39162 / 39177 / 39498 / 39502 / 39511 / 39512 / 39495
Digi	CelcomDigi / Digi / DigiRewards 200 / 2901 / 2691 / 5001 / 27676 20000 / 21000 / 28879 / 28888 / 28882 / 22288 / 28282 / 22888

Maxis has 5-digit short codes like 1XXXX, 2XXXX, and 6XXXX, but has chosen to block SMS messages containing personal information from their Enterprise short codes:

In order to prevent individuals from becoming online scam scams, the Malaysia Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued a directive to all telcos on 14 February 2023 to block sending and receiving of short messaging service (SMS) from local, international mobile numbers and applications containing below contents:

URL link and any clickable link e.g. shorten URL; shorten URL;
Request for user’s personal information e.g name, IC number, account number and
Mobile and fixed line number

Blockings are being implemented in stages; started from 2 May 2023 for SMS between individuals; the next and last stage is the blocking of SMS containing the above 3 elements from mobile and applications such as Enterprise SMS service and Maxis IoT SIM from 2 July 2023.

Risky SMS Ban Helpful, But Other Platforms Still A Risk

While this measure is really helpful in reducing scams, the ban is limited to SMS messages. It does not prevent scammers from sending similar scam messages through instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, etc.

I should also point out that links are not 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.

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Malaysian Telcos Ban SMS Links To Prevent Scams!

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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

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.

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.

Recommended Reading

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Warning : Viral SPM 2020 Grading Scale Is Misleading!

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Please be warned that the viral picture of the SPM 2020 grading scale is misleading! Here are the FACTS!

Viral SPM 2020 Grading Scale On Facebook + WhatsApp

A picture of the purported SPM 2020 grading scale has gone viral on Facebook and WhatsApp.

In particular, a post by MamaMia Mia on 11 June 2021 went viral and caught the attention of the Malaysia Ministry of Education (KPM).

In her post, MamaMia Mia commented, “This is why I found it odd that the kids today are getting rows of As“.

She then edited the post, adding “I don’t know where this grading scale came from. People are just sharing them. Even if they deny it, there is no evidence of the truth. The effort of children studying isn’t the issue. It’s the fact that every year the minister will claim that their batch is the best. Suspicious.”

Viral SPM 2020 Grading Scale Is Misleading!

The grading scale is often shared without any explanation, so many people assume it’s the actual SPM 2020 grading scale.

But a closer look at the title will show that the chart is actually for the 2020 SPMRSM exams – the SPM trial examinations for MRSM (Maktab Rendah Sains MARA) – MARA Junior Science College in English.

It is said that MRSM trial examinations for SPM are tougher than the actual SPM examinations, so it is plausible that they would use a lower grading scale.

KPM has since issued a press release calling it misleading, and even lodged a police report over the post.

KPM Press Release On Viral SPM 2020 Grading Scale

This is our English translation of the official KPM press release on the viral SPM 2020 grading scale.

DENIAL OF SPM GRADING SCALE ON FACEBOOK

The Malaysia Ministry of Education (KPM) would like to refer to the post on MamaMia Mia’s Facebook page on 11 June 2021 regarding the ‘SPM Grading Scale’ with the caption “That’s why I feel it’s weird kids are now getting rows of As.” and “#bilasekolahdipolitikkan” (#whenschoolsarepoliticised) which is now viral.

We stress that the ‘SPM Grading Scale’ that has gone viral does not belong to the KPM Examination Board. The ‘SPM Grading Scale’ is presented as if it is the actual marking grade of SPM in 2020 and can confuse the public, especially parents and candidates for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination in 2020. The post tarnishes the image, authority and credibility of the Examination Board as the national assessment body and threatens public order.

The Examination Board lodged a police report at 10.31pm on 11 June 2021, as well as a report to the Communications and Multimedia Commission for further investigation.

Malaysia Ministry of Education
11 June 2021

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The New Digi 900 MHz Network Spectrum Explained

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Digi Telecommunications activated their new 900 MHz network on 1 July 2017, promising wider coverage and better signal penetration in buildings. In this article, we will share with you why this matters to you as a consumer.

The New Digi 900 MHz Network Spectrum Explained

The 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum were originally reserved for use by 2G networks, but in February 2016, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) reallocated certain bands for use by 3G and 4G LTE networks. Digi was allocated 2 x 5 MHz of 900 MHz and 2 x 20 MHz of 1800 MHz for 15 years.

According to Digi Chief Technology Officer, Kesavan Sivabalan, the Digi 4G LTE network reaches 86% of Malaysians in 295 cities and major towns today, while the faster LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network covers 45% of populated areas in Malaysia, covering 80 cities and towns.

The new 900 MHz spectrum not only extends the reach from the base stations, but also penetrates walls better to offer stronger indoor coverage.

To educate consumers on the advantages of the new 900 MHz network, Digi created this advertorial :

Currently, the Digi 4G LTE 900 MHz spectrum covers only 15% of the population in 51 cities and towns. There is an emphasis on rural areas, due to the greater reach of the 900 MHz spectrum, and the lower likelihood of network congestion.

Digi on the MRT

Digi also took the opportunity to announce that their network is also available throughout the underground sections of the newly-launched MRT line. This means Digi customers will enjoy seamless connectivity at all times, while riding on the MRT.

“Customers can stay connected and reachable at all times while they travel on the MRT. They can continue to stream content like music and videos, play online games or even catch up on the reading their favourite websites. This is just another example of what we mean when we say we have the infrastructure in place to cater to our customers’ ever-changing and evolving digital lifestyles,” Kesavan added.

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