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Did Malaysia just block use of public DNS servers?!

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?

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 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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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 orders DNS redirection for business and government!

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MCMC has ordered ISPs in Malaysia to implement DNS redirection for businesses, enterprises, and government agencies! Here is what you need to know…

Malaysia orders DNS redirection for business and government!

The Maxis FAQ, which is titled Maxis Business DNS Redirection, states that this directive by MCMC is meant to “protect users from harmful or illegal online content” by blocking access to “websites involved in online gambling, pornography, copyright violations, scams, and other illegal activities.”

Here is a quick primer on what DNS redirection would mean for Malaysian businesses, enterprises and government agencies.

What is DNS?

When you visit a website, you will normally key in a user-friendly name (like www.techarp.com), but the website itself uses a numerical IP address (like 192.0.2.1).

DNS translates that user-friendly name into the correct IP address, so your computer can access the website.

What is DNS redirection?

By default, most people use the DNS servers provided by their Internet service provider. However, some people choose to use alternative DNS servers from Google or Cloudflare for privacy, faster speeds, or to avoid censorship.

DNS redirection prevents that by redirecting all DNS queries from your phone or computer 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).

Is DNS redirection good or bad?

Blocking access to illegal, or dangerous websites is important for businesses, enterprises, and government agencies, because it reduces the risks of reputational damage, and prevents the inadvertent commission of offence by employees. Blocking scam websites is also an important way to prevent people and companies from getting scammed.

On the other hand, public DNS servers from Google and Cloudflare offer faster speeds with lower latency, and block tracking by ISPs or governments. They also offer enhanced security using DNSSEC – DNS Security Extensions.

Which Malaysian ISPs are affected?

According to the Maxis FAQ, this MCMC directive affects all ISPs offering both mobile and fixed Internet services in Malaysia.

Who will be affected by DNS redirection?

According to the Maxis FAQ, this MCMC directive primarily affects Business / Enterprise / Government customers who use public DNS services. But there are already reports that consumer DNS queries have also been redirected.

Interestingly, 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“. So this MCMC directive may actually apply to consumer users, and not just business, enterprise, or government users.

Which DNS services are affected?

According to the Maxis FAQ, this directive currently affects public DNS services like Google DNS and Cloudflare. OpenDNS was not mentioned, but is likely to be affected too.

Private DNS servers, and encrypted DNS queries like DNS over HTTPS (DoH) or DNS over TLS (DoT) are not affected.

When must Malaysian ISPs implement DNS redirection?

According to the Maxis FAQ, MCMC ordered all Internet service providers in Malaysia to implement its DNS redirection directive by 30 September 2024.

Users on Time, Telekom Malaysia and Maxis networks have reported that DNS redirection is already in effect.

How to check if DNS redirection has been implemented?

DNS redirection is designed to block access to websites deemed illegal by the government of Malaysia. If you access a blocked website, it will be inaccessible.

You can also test by trying to go to the Cloudflare DNS website – https://1.1.1.1/ using your Internet browser. If you see “Unable to connect”, instead of the 1.1.1.1 website, then your DNS queries are being redirected to your ISP’s own DNS servers.

Alternatively, techies can use the tracert command (in Windows command prompt), or traceroute command (in macOS Terminal) to connect to the alternative DNS server (like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8), and see if it gets routed properly.

If the trace route shows your query ending in a different IP address than the alternative DNS server you selected (like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8), then it is being redirected.

Can you opt out of DNS redirection?

No, unfortunately – you are not allowed to opt out, because it’s a regulatory requirement by MCMC.

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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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Why QR Code in Air Selangor red tag is not a scam!

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Are scammers turning off water supply and using a red Air Selangor tag with a QR code to cheat their victims?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : QR Code On Air Selangor Red Tag Is A Phishing Scam!

People are sharing a photo of a red tag from Air Selangor, claiming or suggesting that scammers are turning off water supply and using the QR code to cheat their victims!

On WhatsApp : A tenant had his water supply suddenly stop so he went out to check and saw this red tag.

This QR leads to a website which at first glance looks like legitimate AS website but it’s not. It’s a scam, like many other imitation website.

Turns out the tap was turned off manually. Air selangor doesn’t operate this way.

Please be alert 🙏🏻

Received from a friend, this could be a similar case of the free water bottle with a QR code scam

Stay alert
Stay Safe

Truth : QR Code On Air Selangor Red Tag Is Not A Scam!

This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Air Selangor QR Code Is Legitimate

Let me start by pointing out that the QR code on the Air Selangor red tag that people are sharing on WhatsApp appears to be legitimate.

If you scan the QR code, it will take you to a QR code generator and redirect website called ME-QR, with the link https://qr.me-qr.com/3430619.

Once you click on the Skip advertisement link, it will take you directly to the payment page on the official payment website for Air Selangor – https://crisportal.airselangor.com/pay/

While it is admittedly odd for Air Selangor to use a QR code redirect website (instead of linking the QR code directly to their official website), the redirect eventually leads to their official website, which is not a scam or phishing website.

To avoid confusing people, it would be better for companies like Air Selangor to use QR codes that lead directly to their official websites. There is no reason for companies to use QR code redirect services.

Ultimately, this viral message appears to be a misguided attempt by a wannabe Internet security “expert” to warn people about a QR code scam that does not exist.

Fact #2 : Air Selangor Red Tag Is Legitimate

I should also point out that the Air Selangor red tag is legitimate. Air Selangor confirmed on Friday, 12 July 2024, that it leaves a red tag after shutting off water supply to residences or businesses with unpaid bills.

For example, Malaysian actress Zarina Zainuddin posted a photo (archive) of such a red tag on 24 February 2021, when Air Selangor cut off water supply to her house for outstanding bills.

It appears that these red tags from Air Selangor do not have a QR code in the past, but newer red tags have a QR code to encourage debtors to pay their outstanding bills.

Fact #3 : QR Code On Water Bottle Was Not A Scam

The viral message appears to refer to a recent viral claim that scammers are giving out free water bottles with a QR code that will empty your bank account.

I investigated that claim in April, and found it to be false as well. That QR code only led to Go Shopping – a mobile shopping app on the Google Play Store, and Apple App Store. Incidentally, those free water bottles have a Go Shopping logo on them…

Fact #4 : QR Code Is Not Malicious In Nature

QR code (which is short for Quick Response code) is not nefarious or malicious in nature.

The QR code is merely a type of two dimensional barcode that was invented in 1994 by the Japanese company, Denso Wave, to track automotive parts. It has since been adopted for other purposes because it is more efficient and can support more than just numbers. For example, Version 40 QR code can contain up to 7,089 numbers or 4,296 characters.

Ultimately, a QR code is nothing more than a series of numbers or characters – data which can be used for a variety of purposes, including providing a link to an online restaurant menu.

While QR codes are not malicious by nature, scammers can and do create fake QR codes to trick people. In Texas, for example, fake QR codes were placed on parking meters to trick drivers into keying their credit card or bank login information in fake (phishing) websites that look like a genuine payment website.

So, the safest way is to manually open the official website for the bank or payment portal you need, instead of using a QR code.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Bantuan Tambahan RM1000 Scam Alert!

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Is the Malaysian government giving every citizen extra RM1000 through the Bantuan Tambahan financial aid?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out why it’s just a scam!

Bantuan Tambahan RM1000 Scam Alert!

People are sharing links to WhatsApp and Telegram groups that purportedly offer RM1000 in extra financial aid from the Malaysian government! Here are the messages, with our English translation in bold.

Bantuan RM1000 telah dikreditkan dalam MyKad bermula hari ini.

Bantuan kerajaan melalui MyKad ini telah dilaksanakan sejak bulan May 2024.

MOHON & SEMAK https://mykad-xxxxx-xxxx.try-44.com/c/

RM1000 assistance has been credited into MyKad starting today.

Government assistance through MyKad has been implemented since May 2024.

APPLY & CHECK https://mykad-xxxxx-xxxx.try-44.com/c/

Jom claim bantuan tu sy dah claim dan success masuk kat mykad sye

Go and claim that financial aid. I have claimed mine, and successfully received the cash in my MyKad

These scams do not only appear on WhatsApp and Telegram, but also TikTok.

Recommended : Can You Get Free Cash Via MyKasih App?!

Why Bantuan Tambahan RM1000 Is A Scam!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why!

Fact #1 : There Is No RM1000 Bantuan Tambahan

Let me start by pointing out that there is no such thing as the RM1000 Bantuan Tambahan financial aid from the Malaysian government.

This scam has been circulating since October 2023, with the scammers changing the name to mislead people.

On 15 October 2023, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance called it fake news, and warned people against sharing it:

THIS IS FAKE!

The Ministry of Finance stresses that information about the Rahmah Basic Aid of RM1000 in your MyKad claim is FALSE.

Be careful and don’t be easily fooled by such news on social media.

Visit the portal and follow the Ministry of Finance’s official social media channels for the latest and most accurate information.

Not sure, don’t share.

INI ADALAH PALSU!

Kementerian Kewangan menegaskan bahawa maklumat mengenai Bantuan Asas Rahmah RM1000 dalam MyKad adalah PALSU.

Berhati-hati dan jangan mudah terpedaya dengan berita-berita sebegini di media sosial.

Layari portal dan ikuti saluran media sosial rasmi Kementerian Kewangan untuk maklumat terkini dah sahih.

Tidak pasti, jangan kongsi.

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Recommended : Warning – PDRM Parking Fine Scam Alert!

Fact #2 : Domain Is New + Ownership Is Hidden!

The domain used by this scam website is quite new, and was registered only on 25 October 2023. But more importantly, its ownership is hidden – a common way for scammers and other criminals to avoid being identified.

Fact #3 : This Scam Targets Your Telegram Account!

I investigated the link, and it appears to be a phishing website based on the STR 2024 scam that I debunked earlier this year.

The real STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) website will only ask you for your MyKad or user ID to check your STR 2024 status.

The scam websites, on the other hand, will ask you to submit your full name, and your mobile number.

They will send an OTP to your Telegram account, and ask you to key in the OTP to their website. This will allow them to hijack and take over your Telegram account.

To protect your Telegram account from such hijacking, please make sure you turn on Two-Step Verification!

Even if you don’t have a Telegram account, the scammers now have access to your full name and mobile number, which they can use in future scam attacks.

Fact #3 : STR 2024 Does Not Give RM1,000 Per Month

To help the hardcore poor handle the high inflation in 2024, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance announced an increase in the amount of STR cash aid.

However, even with the increased STR 2024 cash aid, you won’t receive RM1,000 per month. That’s just insane. Here is what the government is giving for STR 2024, in quarterly payments:

Qualifying Categories	STR 2024 Cash Aid
Household Income ≤ RM2,500	No Children : RM1,000 1-2 Children : RM1,500 3-4 Children : RM2,000 ≥5 Children : RM2,500
Household Income RM2,500 – RM5,000	No Children : RM500 1-2 Children : RM750 3-4 Children : RM1,000 ≥5 Children : RM1,250
Senior (Single) ≤ RM5,000	RM600
Single ≤ RM2,500	RM350

As you can see, only the hardcore poor will get RM1,000, or more. If you are middle class, or well-to-do, you rightly will not qualify for this financial aid!

Do NOT click on the links, and do NOT share them with your family and friends!

Please help us FIGHT SCAMS + SCAMMERS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did UN Say Conspiracy Theorists Should Be Eliminated?!

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Did the UN just declare war on conspiracy theorists, and say that they should be punished or eliminated like terrorists?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : UN Says Conspiracy Theorists Should Be Eliminated!

People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed that the UN (United Nations) just declared war on conspiracy theorists, saying that they should be punished or eliminated like terrorists!

Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

UN Says ‘Dangerous’ Conspiracy Theorists Must Be Punished Like Terrorists

The United Nations has declared war on conspiracy theorists, describing the rise of people thinking for themselves as “worrying and dangerous”, and providing the public with a toolkit to “debunk” and “prebunk” anyone who dares to suggest the global elite are anything but completely honest, upstanding and working with our best interests at heart.

The UN also warns that George Soros, the Rothschilds, and the State of Israel must not be linked to any “alleged conspiracies.”

It’s no wonder the UN are waging war on so-called conspiracy theorists.

UNESCO has teamed up with Twitter, the European Commission and the World Jewish Congress to launch the campaign dubbed #ThinkBeforeSharing: Stop the spread of conspiracy theories.

The UN wants you to know that events are NOT “secretly manipulated behind the scenes by powerful forces with negative intent” and if you encounter anybody who thinks the global elite are conspiring to seize power and dictate global events, you must take action.

According to UNESCO, “if you are certain you have encountered a conspiracy theory” on the internet then you must “react” immediately post a relevant link to a “fact-checking website” in the comments.

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Truth : UN Did Not Say Conspiracy Theorists Should Be Eliminated!

This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : UN Did Not Say Conspiracy Theorists Should Be Eliminated

Let me start by quickly pointing out that the United Nations (UN) did not say that conspiracy theorists should be punished or eliminated like terrorists, as claimed or suggested by The People’s Voice article.

If that actually happened, it would have been reported worldwide. Yet, no legitimate media reported on such a shocking development, because it never happened.

Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article did not provide any actual evidence that the UN said that conspiracy theorists should be punished or eliminated like terrorists.

Fact #2 : #ThinkBeforeSharing No Longer Exists!

Now, I should point out that UNESCO initiated the #ThinkBeforeSharing initiative back in August 2020 – during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the #ThinkBeforeSharing website no longer exists!

So why would The People’s Voice article claim or suggest that the UN recently launched the #ThinkBeforeSharing campaign, when it no longer exists??? Did their time machine break down after they travelled back to 2020???

Fact #3 : UN Did Not Warn About Soros, Rothschild, Israel

The United Nations also did not issue any warning that George Soros, the Rothschilds, and the State of Israel must not be linked to any “alleged conspiracies.”

Yet again, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence that the UN warned against linking George Soros, the Rothschilds, or Israel, to any conspiracy.

Fact #4 : UNESCO Pointed Out That Real Conspiracies Do Exist!

In addition, UNESCO itself pointed out (archive) that real conspiracies do exist, and have been exposed by whistleblowers and the media. It even quoted an example:

In 2006, the U.S. District Court in Washington DC (USA) ruled that major cigarette companies were guilty of conspiracy. For decades, they had hidden evidence of health risks attached to smoking to promote higher sales.

So why would UNESCO or the UN call for conspiracy theorists to be eliminated or punished like terrorists when some of them could be right???

Fact #5 : UN Screenshot Is Fake

The cover image used by The People’s Voice article and video has a screenshot which purportedly shows the United Nations (UN) posting on X (formerly Twitter) that:

Conspiracy theorists must be totally eliminated from society.

That is most definitely a fake screenshot, because there is no such post on X by the United Nations.

If the UN actually posted such a shocking tweet, it would have been reported by the worldwide media. But of course, that didn’t happen, because the UN never posted it!

The official United Nations account on X also has a grey checkmark, not a blue checkmark.

This appears to be yet another fake / edited screenshot created or posted by The People’s Voice!

Fact #6 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News

The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.

Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.

Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did WEF just order ICANN to seize website domains?!

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Did the WEF just order ICANN to seize website domains that publish “non-mainstream content”?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : WEF Orders ICANN To Seize Website Domains!

People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed that WEF just ordered ICANN to seize website domains that publish “non-mainstream content”!

Here is an excerpt of the long and (intentionally?) confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

WEF Orders ICANN To Seize Website Domains That Publish ‘Non-Mainstream Content’

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has ordered the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to wage “war on conspiracy theorists” by seizing domains of websites that publish “non-mainstream content” online.

The EU DisinfoLab, a WEF-funded nonprofit, says ICANN needs to expand its control over domain registration limitations to include so-called “disinformation” policing in addition to phishing and malware. This would mean that ICANN would be granted powers to police who is allowed to register websites based on their adherence to official narratives.

Naturalnews.com reports: It is disingenuous, just for the record, for the EU DisinfoLab to claim independence when a large percentage of its funding comes from none other than the Open Society Foundations, which are a project of billionaire agitator George Soros.

The Open Society Foundations is already testing the waters concerning the “repurposing” of ICANN to become a tool for targeting “disinformation sites.” Natural News, presumably, would be included in that repurposed targeting, as would many other independent media sites.

Utilizing “the structure already created by ICANN,” The EU DisinfoLab is urging ICANN to basically police the entire internet in search of anything the powers the be (TPTB) consider as “disinformation.” Doing this, the group argues, would require a “minimal amount of diligence and cooperation” from registries.

The purpose of all this would be to have ICANN determine which websites are unacceptable, meaning their domain names would be revoked. The entire internet worldwide would be affected by such a change.

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Truth : WEF Did Not Order ICANN To Seize Website Domains!

This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : WEF Did Not Order ICANN To Seize Website Domains!

Let me start by simply pointing out that the World Economic Forum (WEF) did not order ICANN to seize website domains for posting disinformation and/or “non-mainstream content”.

If that actually happened, it would have been reported all over the world. Yet no legitimate media report it – that’s because it never happened.

Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice did not provide any actual evidence to back up its claim that the WEF ordered ICANN to seize website domains for posting “non-mainstream content”!

Fact #2 : EU DisinfoLab Did Not Order ICANN To Seize Website Domains

The People’s Voice article appears to be based around the EU DisinfoLab article called “Of Domain Names And Ducks“. Interestingly, it did not include a link to the article…

Perhaps that’s because anyone reading it would immediately see that EU DisinfoLab itself did not order ICANN to seize website domains for posting “non-mainstream content”, or disinformation!

Nowhere in its article did EU DisinfoLab call upon ICANN to seize website domains for any reason. In fact, its article specifically points out that it “makes a lot of sense” that ICANN is “unwilling to regulate content“!

Its article also pointed out that ICANN ran a security operation called DNSTICR (Domain Name System Threat Information Collection and Reporting) to identify websites involving in phishing attacks and spreading malware, and instead of seizing those domains, it merely informed the domain registrars, and left it to the domain registrars to take action based on local laws, terms of service, etc.

In short – EU DisinfoLab too did not order ICANN to seize website domains for any reason.

Fact #3 : EU DisinfoLab Article Was About Doppelgänger Websites

I should also point out that the EU DisinfoLab article was referring specifically to Doppelgänger websites, which are websites that deceptively mimic real news websites in order to spread disinformation.

Basically, these websites attempt to look like genuine news websites (for example, CNN or BBC), with similar domains (for example, CNNNews.com or BBCNews.org), to trick people into believing fake content or disinformation.

This is completely different from websites that produce “non-mainstream content”. It doesn’t even address websites that consistently produce fake news, like The People’s Voice, but do not attempt to masquerade as genuine news websites.

Fact #4 : No Evidence EU DisinfoLab Is Not Independent

The People’s Voice article suggested that EU DisinfoLab is not independent because it receives funding from the WEF and the Open Society Foundations.

While that may be possible, there is no actual evidence that EU DisinfoLab received funding from the WEF or Open Society Foundations.

While EU DisinfoLab (EUDL) receives funding from private and public sources, its fundraising policy only allows contributions from sources that meet these criteria:

• Avoid the creation of a perception of bias or actual bias that would undermine EUDL reputation or credibility.
• Impose no compromise to the effectiveness and objectivity of EUDL’s work.
• The funding source should not present any other risk to the reputation and mission of the organisation and support the implementation of EUDL’s mission and core activities without condition

In addition, EUDL also has an internal alert system to allow employees to report directly to its Board of Directors any suspicion of the organisation’s independence being altered.

Fact #5 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News

The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.

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Jetpack Stats Is No Longer Free, Here’s The Alternative!

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Jetpack Stats is no longer free – Jetpack has started charging websites a monthly fee to keep an eye on their stats!

Here is what you need to know, and what you can switch to…

Jetpack Stats Is No Longer Free!

On 10 April 2024, Jetpack announced that it will now start charging websites a monthly fee to keep an eye on their stats, based on the amount of traffic they receive.

While Jetpack says it is “excited” to share that personal websites are staying free, it is likely that the vast majority of websites will never qualify, as Jetpack’s definition of “commercial sites” is wide-ranging. You are considered “commercial”, as long as:

your website has advertisements of any kind, including Google Adsense
you sell products or services on your website
you promote a business on your website
you solicit donations or sponsorship on your website

In other words, you will have to pay even if you are a charity seeking donations, or a Girl Scout troop hawking cookies.

On top of that, Jetpack is not charging a flat rate for its Stats module, but a pretty hefty fee based on the amount of traffic you receive every month!

Please note that you are billed yearly. To make it easier for you to understand the cost, I summarised the prices for Jetpack Stats in this table:

Monthly Limit	Monthly Price	Yearly Cost
10K page views	US$8.34	US$100
100K page views	US$16.67	US$200
250K page views	US$25	US$300
500K page views	US$41.67	US$500
1M page views	US$58.34	US$700
2M page views	US$79.17	US$950
Every additional 1M page views	+US$20.83	+US$250

Mind you – this is just the cost for Jetpack Stats, which appears to be a separate and additional cost to the Jetpack Security and Jetpack Complete subscriptions, which are US$9.95, and US$24.95 per month respectively.

So you are talking about forking out serious money just to monitor your website stats, and get some insights.

Best Free Jetpack Stats Alternative : MonsterInsights

To be sure, Jetpack Stats was a useful and convenient tool, when it was free, but it really doesn’t make sense to pay so much to stick with it. After all, it’s basically displaying a summary of your Google Analytics data!

Fortunately, there is a great alternative – MonsterInsights. It looks remarkably similar to Jetpack Stats (or vice versa), so you should have no problem switching. It’s also easy to install and setup – I took less than 10 minutes to migrate from Jetpack Stats to MonsterInsights. Best of all – MonsterInsights is FREE!

There is a paid MonsterInsights Pro version, but that’s only necessary for those who need specialised features like events tracking, ecommerce tracking, custom dimensions tracking, page speed reports, popular post tracking, custom dimensions, affiliate link tracking, video, tracking, etc.

MonsterInsights is easy to install and setup. Here’s a quick guide:

Step 1 : Your WordPress website, go to the Add New Plugin page.

Step 2 : Search for MonsterInsights.

Step 3 : Click on the Install Now button for MonsterInsights, and wait for the installation to complete.

Step 4 : Click on the Activate button.

Step 5 : Refresh your WordPress website, and you will see a new Insights option on the menu.

Step 6 : Click on Insights > Setup Checklist > Launch Wizard.

Step 7 : Sign into your Google Account, and select the right Analytics Property.

Step 8 : Complete the rest of the setup, including selecting the features you want. Then wait for it to complete its setup process.

That’s it! You should be able to instantly monitor your website stats using MonsterInsights, without paying to use Jetpack Stats!

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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 US Send 7000 Insects To Destroy Crops In China?!

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Did the US try to send 7,000 Drosophila insects into China to destroy their crops?! Take a look at viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Updated @ 2024-03-23 : Updated for new release
Originally posted @ 2023-04-19

Claim : US Sent 7,000 Insects To Destroy Crops In China!

People are sharing a video of a Chinese news report about Chinese custom officials discovering 66 containers of some 7,000 insects in a parcel shipped from the US.

They allege that this is evidence of American sabotage – that the US sent those insects to destroy crops in China. The video is often shared with such messages :

China customs found 7000 insects sent from the USA. Out to destroy crops in China.

An evil country on the way down trying to pull others down too with sickening and rather despicable tactics !
🤬🤬🤬

The video showed China 🇨🇳 Port Custom, checked a luggage claimed to contain clothing. But when scanned through & upon suspicion, Custom Officers opened up the bag. They found there were more than 60 bottles containing the larvae of Drosophila, some 7k of it. If these bottles of larvae Drosophila were successfully smuggled into China & the matured Drosophila spread throughout the whole China. It will destroy all the fruits plantation/orchards. The matured ones multiplies & spread very fast. The luggage is from USA 🇺🇸. The acts of inhumanity in infecting & destroying China 🇨🇳 food chain. Evilness knows no boundries.

Did the US try to send 7,000 fruit flies into China to destroy their crops?! 😲🤔

Here is my fact check : https://t.co/plL00Op2DC #TechARP #China #UnitedStates #Wumao #Propaganda #Controversy #Agriculture #Crops #Food #Safety #Danger #Facts #FactsMatter #FactCheck #FakeNews pic.twitter.com/ue90TcI1mw

— Dr. Adrian Wong (@DrAdrianWong) April 20, 2023

In addition to claiming that these insects are dangerous to crops, some pro-CCP or Chinese-sponsored websites are promoting the claim that these insects had their genes edited to become “more infectious”, like a “super mosquito”.

They also point out that each of these insects can reproduce every 10 days, laying 400 eggs in their lifetime to quickly produce a swarm that will destroy fruits in China, by corrupting them with bacteria and fungi.

Truth : US Did Not Send 7,000 Insects To Destroy Crops In China!

This is yet another example of fake news created by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), and shared by pro-CCP netizens and websites, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : The Incident Happened In July 2022

First, let us establish what we know about this case.

Sometime in early July 2022, Qingdao customs officers examined a package sent from the United States. Its declaration form claimed that the parcel contained clothes.

When they opened it up, they found two pieces of clothes inside, with 66 sealed tubes containing eggs, larvae, pupae and adult insects.

After analysing them, Qingdao custom officers estimated that the 66 tubes contained roughly 7,000 fruit flies, specifically of the species Drosophila melanogaster.

Fact #2 : Drosophila megalogaster Is Present Worldwide

Drosophila melanogaster is known as the common fruit fly, which is commonly present across the world. Yes, this fruit fly is already present in China.

Despite originating in Africa – it is now present on all continents across the world, including islands.

Fact #3 : Drosophila megalogaster Can Lay Up To 2,000 Eggs

The Chinese media promoting this story can’t even get their facts right, claiming that these fruit flies lay up to 400 eggs in their lifetime.

Drosophila melanogaster females are far more productive than that – they can lay up to 100 eggs a day, and up to 2,000 eggs in a lifetime.

Fact #4 : Drosophila megalogaster Do Not Cause Fruits To Rot

Drosophila melanogaster is not an economic pest, even though no one welcomes them in their home.

It is often confused with Tephritidae – a different family of insects that are also called fruit flies, some of which are economic pests that destroy fruits.

Unlike Tephritidae fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster do not destroy fruits. They are attracted to fruit that is already rotting, but do not cause fruits to rot.

The claims that the US sent Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies to destroy crops in China is nonsense.

Fact #5 : Drosophila megalogaster Is Commonly Used For Research

Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies are very popular in scientific research, for many reasons :

they are easy and cheap to care for, requiring little equipment and space
they have a rapid life cycle of 10 days, allowing several generations to be studied in a few weeks
each female can produce many offspring, laying up to 2,000 eggs in its lifetime
they have simple genetics, with only four pairs of chromosomes
their genome was completely sequenced and published in the year 2000

Scientists do not mention this as a reason for using Drosophila melanogaster, but I think it is important to note that it is not a pest, so accidental release of these fruit flies would not pose any danger of any form or kind.

Fact #6 : Drosophila megalogaster Is Commonly Shipped Worldwide

Because it is a model organism for research, Drosophila melanogaster is bred and shipped internationally to researchers worldwide.

The College of Agriculture and Life Science at Cornell University, for example, breeds and sells Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies, which they ship internationally including China.

Fact #7 : 2021 Seized Shipment Was Meant For Chinese Research Institute

This wasn’t the first time China seized live Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies in such tubes.

In June 2021, Chinese custom officials found 58 tubes containing more than 1,000 of these fruit flies in an imported parcel addressed to a Chinese research institute.

They seized the parcel because its contents were not declared, and it lacked an import permit.

Fact #8 : China Requires Quarantine For Live Insects

China forbids live insects from being mailed or carried into the country, without special quarantine or approval. However, quarantine is a problem for Drosophila melanogaster because it has such a short lifespan of just 50 days.

Hence, it is possible that Chinese researchers are trying to circumvent the quarantine by importing live Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies, without an import permit which would require quarantine.

It is also possible that these fruit flies are being imported as a live food source for people’s pet fish, frogs and other animals.

Fact #9 : Cornell University Warned About Chinese Import Permit

Cornell University specifically warned Chinese researchers trying to purchase these fruit flies that :

As of November 1, 2014, we can only offer free replacements for shipments of live flies to China that were accompanied by an import permit.

That suggests that they lost shipments to China in the past, because they lacked import permits.

Fact #10 : This Is Just Chinese Propaganda

This is really nothing more than yet another example of Chinese propaganda created by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛). Here is just the latest dozen I fact-checked:

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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 Insider Reveal WEF Global Famine False Flag Op?!

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Did an insider just reveal that the WEF is planning a global famine false flag operation?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Insider Reveals WEF Global Famine False Flag Op!

People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed or suggested that an insider just revealed that the WEF is planning a global famine false flag operation!

WEF Insider Reveals The ‘New 9/11’ Will Be a ‘Global Famine’

The global elites are planning another false flag worse than 9/11 according to a World Economic Forum insider who claims the “systemic shock” caused by a devastating “global famine” will allow the elite to usher in mechanisms granting them tyrannical control over humanity.

Governments in the WEF-infiltrated European Union have been ordered to engage in wargames which simulate the upcoming global food crisis, according to the insider who warns the false flag will hit later in 2024 – and when it hits, it will hit hard.

Bloomberg reported: “…over two days in central Brussels last month, some 60 European Union and government officials, food security experts, industry representatives and a few journalists gathered to confront the possibility of something barely on the radar a few years ago: a full-blown food crisis.”

Piotr Magnuszewski, a systems modeler and game designer who helped put the EU conference wargame together told participants to “Expect a level of chaos” and warned, “You may be confused at times and not have enough information.”

Here’s what we know. The elite plan to kick off the food shortage in Europe, which is historically one of the best-fed regions in the world. When the dominoes begin to fall and the consequences for the rest of the world kick in, the globe will be plunged into a devastating famine that will make 9/11 and the Covid pandemic look like child’s play.

The elite have been building up to this moment since the dying days of the Covid plandemic. Bill Gates suddenly moved into farming, quickly becoming America’s biggest landowner. And we have been dealing with a spate of food production fires across the US and Europe, placing stress on the supply chain.

Here are the five most disturbing future events outlined in detail by the global elite during their wargaming event in the heart of the EU last month.

First, they are planning to engineer harvest failures.

Second, they are planning to cut palm oil exports and blame conspiracy theorists for the fallout.

Third, they are planning to exacerbate the fertilizer shortage even more, causing grocery prices to skyrocket

Fourth, they are planning to stoke widespread chaos in the streets

Fifth, they are preparing to deal with widespread anger directed at the elites

According to Schwab, the appropriate action involves depopulating the vast majority of the world. up to 94% of humanity must be killed, according to Schwab’s disciples.

But before the great cull, elite wargame participants all agreed that humanity must be weaned off meat and forced to eat bugs and Bill Gates’ carcinogenic synthetic fake beef.

Show less

Truth : There Is No WEF Global Famine False Flag Op!

This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : It Was An EU Simulation

Let me start by pointing out that there was no WEF global famine false flag operation. In fact, it did not even involve the World Economic Forum (WEF)!

It was just a “war game”, in which European Union and government officials, food security experts, industry representatives and a few journalists simulated “what might happen, and help design policies aimed at prevention and response”.

Just because someone runs a war game on food security (like CNA in December 2015), it doesn’t mean they are planning to launch a false flag operation. It merely means they want to simulate the situation, so they can see what policies / decisions work, and what won’t.

Fact #2 : War Games Are Common

War games aren’t even extraordinary – governments, militaries, think tanks, and even corporations often run such simulations to simulate “worst case scenarios”, so they can create contingency and/or mitigation plans to deal with such “potential problems”.

In fact, the Peace Corps even created a Food Security Game for kids to learn how food insecurity affects populations in different ways!

Fact #3 : EU Global Famine War Game Was Publicly Reported

The People’s Voice article appears to suggest that a WEF insider revealed the dastardly plan to create a global famine. That’s utter nonsense – this global famine war game was publicly reported by Bloomberg, and was even reposted on Yahoo, and many other websites!

Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article offered no evidence to back up its “fact checked” claim that an insider revealed the WEF plan to launch a global famine false flag operation!

Fact #4 : WEF Was Not Mentioned In Bloomberg Report

The People’s Voice article appears to be based on a Yahoo reposting of the Bloomberg report on the EU food security war-game.

If you read the Yahoo / Bloomberg article, you will see that the World Economic Forum (WEF) was not even mentioned once. Neither were Klaus Schwab or Bill Gates mentioned in that report.

So why would anyone tie the WEF, Klaus Schwab and Bill Gates to the EU global famine war-game? Is it possible that they were “name dropped” to trigger conspiracists, and go viral???

Fact #5 : WEF Screenshot Is Fake

The cover image used by The People’s Voice article and video has a screenshot which purportedly shows the World Economic Forum (WEF) posting on X (formerly Twitter) that:

The coming cyber attack will allow a New World Order to emerge.

That is most definitely a fake screenshot, because there is no such post on X by the World Economic Forum. And it’s a really silly creation too – why would the WEF reveal its nefarious cyber attack plan publicly?

Yet again, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence that such a post ever existed! In fact, it would not need some “WEF insider” to spill the beans when the WEF itself already publicly revealed its cyber attack plan!

Fact #6 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News

The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Can You Get Free Cash Via MyKasih App?!

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Is the MyKasih Foundation giving out RM1000 or RM1200 cash aid via its mobile app?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Get Free Cash Via MyKasih App!

Many people are getting messages about getting free cash through the MyKasih Foundation on WhatsApp and Telegram, from their family members and friends:

Terkini: Bantuan Percuma RM1000 Ke Dalam MyKad : Rujuk Cara Semakan & Syarat Kelayakan

Latest: Free RM1000 Assistance Into MyKad : How To Check & Eligibility Conditions

Jom claim RM1200

MyKasih Foundation : Cek MyKad Boleh Dapat Wang RM1000 Secara Percuma

MyKasih Foundation : Check MyKad To Get Free RM1000

Bantuan Tambahan STR 2023 MySARA RM800: Semakan Status & Tarikh Bayaran

Additional STR 2023 MySARA Assistance RM800: Check Status & Payment Date

Truth : MyKasih Free Cash App Is A Scam!

This is yet another example of SCAMS circulating on WhatsApp and Telegram, and here are reasons why…

Fact #1 : MyKasih Free Cash Initiative Is A Scam!

First, let me just point out that these messages on WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as the websites promoting the MyKasih free cash initiative is a scam!

The Malaysian government have already labelled these free cash offers as FAKE NEWS on Facebook and Twitter. Here is a non-exhaustive list of links that have been identified as scam links:

my.mykasihh.online

l.my-kasihapp.com

apps-mykasih.co/twe

There’s no need to memorise these links. These scammers will keep changing them.

Just know that the official MyKasih website is www.mykasih.com.my. Do NOT go to any other website when it comes to the MyKasih Foundation website.

Fact #2 : Those Accounts Were Hijacked

Those viral messages are actually coming from WhatsApp and Telegram accounts that have been hijacked by scammers. That’s why they are so convincing.

Those are really the actual WhatsApp and Telegram accounts of your family members or friends. But they have been taken over by scammers using tricks like the screenshot hack.

Take this opportunity to tighten the security of your own Telegram and WhatsApp accounts, by turning on two-step verification!

Fact #3 : SARA Cash Aid Is Only RM600

As part of its initiative to help the hardcore poor handle the high inflation this year, the Malaysia Ministry of Finance announced SARA (Sumbangan Asas Rahmah).

However, the SARA cash aid is only RM600, and limited to the hardcore poor. There is no way for anyone to get RM800, RM1000 or RM1,200 in SARA cash aid from the government.

RM100 x 6 months is credited directly into the MyKad of eligible hardcore poor, allowing them to purchase a limited list of essential goods from grocery stores and supermarkets across Malaysia, from July to December 2023.

In Sabah and Sarawak, the RM600 is credited directly into the bank account, or provided as cash through Bank Simpanan Nasional branches.

Fact #4 : SARA Recipients Are Automatically Selected

There is no need to apply for SARA cash aid. For one thing – it only applies to the hardcore poor. If you are reading this on a computer or a smartphone, you very likely do not qualify as “hardcore poor”.

SARA recipients are automatically determined using the existing eKasih Hardcore Poor data, and includes those who had earlier qualified for the STR 2023 cash aid.

Fact #5 : Real Website Asks Only For Your MyKad

Qualification for the SARA cash aid of RM600 is based entirely on your MyKad number.

On the official Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) website, you can check for your eligibility using your MyKad number only.

The fake websites look just like the real SARA website, but instead of asking for your MyKad number, they will ask you for your mobile number and ask you to submit a TAC number.

Needless to say – these are scam websites. You should NEVER submit your phone number or any TAC codes.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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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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Israel FM Eli Cohen Confirm Hamas Put Children In Cages?!

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Did Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirm that Hamas is putting Israeli children in cages?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Israel FM Eli Cohen Confirm Hamas Put Children In Cages!

People are sharing articles which claim that Israel Foreign Minister recently confirm that Hamas is putting Israeli children in cages, after capturing them in their October 2023 raid!

Jewish News Syndicate : Israeli foreign minister: Israeli toddlers being held in cages in Gaza

(October 9, 2023 / JNS) Kidnapped Israeli toddlers are being held in cages in Gaza, Eli Cohen, Israel’s foreign minister, said on Monday evening in a press conference in Israel.

“They’re monsters, inhuman terrorists,” Cohen said.

Akron Jewish News : Israeli foreign minister: Footage of Israeli toddlers in cages in Gaza is real

Cleveland Jewish News : Israeli foreign minister: Footage of Israeli toddlers in cages in Gaza is real

Photos and videos of kidnapped Israeli toddlers being held in cages in Gaza are authentic, Eli Cohen, Israel’s foreign minister, said on Monday evening in a press conference in Israel.

“They’re monsters, inhuman terrorists,” Cohen said. Adults are heard laughing in the video footage, as a camera pans across five crying children clinging to the bars of rows of cages.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WhatsApp-Video-2023-10-09-at-13.08.04.mp4?_=1

Truth : Eli Cohen Said Hamas Put Children In Cages, But…

We looked into the claims that Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirmed in a press conference that Hamas were putting Israeli children it captured in cages, and here was what we found…

Fact #1 : Eli Cohen Did Actually Say That

None of those articles actually shared any video evidence of Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirming that Hamas was locking up Israeli children in cages.

However, I located an ANI News recording of a livestreamed press conference (YouTube link), in which Eli Cohen can be seen saying this at around 1:55:

Even [in] the war between Russia and Ukraine, we did not saw murdering entire families, taking captives… small children, and putting them in cages. It’s vicious and evilness that I think the world did not saw before. I think that the only times we saw before was with the Nazis, and maybe with the ISIS.

Fact #2 : JNS Quietly Revamped Its Article

Despite video evidence that Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen did mention that Hamas was putting small children in cages, there appears to be some “walking back” of that claim.

The Jewish News Syndicate, on its part, appear to have quietly replaced its short article on Eli Cohen confirming that Hamas was locking up Israeli children in cages, to a more generic article called “Eli Cohen: ‘An evil that’s not created even by the devil’“.

However, JNS left its original URL as “https://www.jns.org/israeli-foreign-minister-toddlers-cages/” and we have an archive of its original post. If you compare it with the current post, you will see that they are completely different.

Both the Akron and Cleveland Jewish News websites appear to have obtained their articles as syndicated content from the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). They have not updated their articles.

On the other hand, I found an article by VINnews that appears to have also quietly removed references to Eli Cohen confirming that Hamas was locking up small children in cages.

Unfortunately, I could not locate an archive of its original post, but the URL suggests that the original title was possibly “Horrific: Israeli Foreign Minister Confirms Footage Of Israeli Toddlers In Cages In Gaza Is Real“.

https://vinnews.com/2023/10/09/horrific-israeli-foreign-minister-footage-of-israeli-toddlers-in-cages-in-gaza-is-real/

Fact #3 : Children In Cages Video Not Related To Hamas Attack

We had earlier looked into the viral video showing small children in cages, and confirmed that it was unrelated to the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

For one thing – the viral video was posted on TikTok on 4 October 2023 – three days BEFORE the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel.

A much older example of this viral video was posted on YouTube (archive link) on 27 January 2020. Palestine News claimed that the video showed Palestinian children locked in cages by the Israeli army, and was filmed in Hebron (not Gaza)

Israeli Army Kidnapping Palestinian Children and throwing them in Cages , in Occupied Hebron , VIA B’TSELEM

Several commentators (example) however, claimed that this video was originally recorded in Syria, around 2015. They (example) claimed that the video was recorded by a father who found his children playing in the chicken coop, and locked them up for a laugh. The man, who appeared to be the person recording the video, can be heard laughing heartily in the background.

Unfortunately, I cannot confirm (at the moment) whether this video shows Palestinian children being held captive by Israeli soldiers, or Syrian children locked in a cage by their father. The B’Tselem website, for example, has way too many references to children in cages, and I cannot locate the original video allegedly posted by the Syrian father.

What is certain is that – this video is at least several years old, and is therefore not related to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.

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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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Warning – PDRM Parking Fine Scam Alert!

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Scammers are targeting motorists with the PDRM parking fine scam! Make sure you warn your family and friends!

Here is what you need to know about the PDRM parking fine scam!

PDRM Parking Fine Scam Email

People are getting emails warning them that they just committed a parking violation, while offering them a cheap fine if they pay quickly.

Fines Inquiry and Payment

Dear recipient,

We are writing to draw your attention to a recent traffic violation in Malaysian jurisdiction.

Our traffic enforcement staff have observed your vehicle parked in a no-parking zone. This contravenes section (no. 2016-691] of the Road Traffic Act.

The fine is set at MYR 50. Payment of the fine is required within 7 days of the date of notification, to avoid further legal consequences.

If the fine is not paid within the time limit, you may be subject to legal action, resulting in an increase in the original fine.

Payment deadline: [08/26/2023]

Methods of payment accepted:

Cordially,

Malaysian Police Department

PDRM Parking Fine Email Is A Scam!

These PDRM parking fine emails are scam emails. This was confirmed by PDRM itself.

On 7 August 2023, the Cyber Crime division of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) posted an alert warning motorists not to fall for the MyBayar scam.

These emails are designed to scare its victims into action. Hence, it offers a very cheap way to quickly “settle the problem”. However, if you take a breath, and analyse the email CAREFULLY, you will see many problems with it.

Letter is from PDRM : The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will never write to you by email.
Letter is in English : The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will never write to you in English.
Typo in the name : The fake email used My Bayar PDRM, instead of MyBayar PDRM.
Lack of name and personal details : The fake email refers generically to “Dear recipient“, without listing your full name and MyKad number.
Lack of vehicle details : The fake email doesn’t mention the vehicle make and plate number.
Lack of location details : The fake email does not mention where the offence occurred, or even when it occurred.
Fine is much too low : PDRM traffic fines are never as low as RM50. The cheapest fine is RM150 for Category 4 offences, but you can pay as low as RM70 within 15 days.
No such law : The fake email refers to the Road Traffic Act. There is no such act in Malaysia. The proper name is the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333).
No such section : If you look at the Malaysia Road Transport Act 1987 (PDF download), you will see that there is no such thing as Section 2016-691.

The email appears to be from My Bayar PDRM (typo in the name), but if you inspect the email address, you will see that it was sent by “in-to-no-reply@silverbackgames.xxx” or “hello@sooqr.com” or some other email address.

Obviously, this email did not originate from an official PDRM email address! This should immediately tell you that this is a fake or scam email!

If you click on the Pay My Fine link in the scam email, you will be taken to a fake My Bayar PDRM website (with the same typo in the name).

You may notice that you now have 7 days to pay the RM 50 fine, instead of just 5 days in the email. Odd, isn’t it?

Also odd is the fact that the page does not mention your name, your MyKad number, your vehicle type and model, or even its plate number! The page also doesn’t mention where the offence took place, or the time you were caught committing said offence.

Do NOT proceed after this point… This is a scam website!

But if you have itchy fingers, and click on the Pay The Fine button, you will be asked to pay for the RM50 fine using your debit or credit card.

Needless to say, PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR DEBIT / CREDIT CARD DETAILS!!!

If you provide these scammers with your debit / credit card details and TAC / OTP numbers, they will be able to charge ANY AMOUNT they want to your credit card, or withdraw ANY AMOUNT they want from your bank account!

It’s even worse if you are asked to log into your bank account to pay the fine. DO NOT DO THAT!

If you provide them with your bank login and password, as well as OTP/TAC number, these scammers will be able to transfer money out of your bank account!

Please note – this is a scam! This is a phishing attack to gain access to your credit card and/or bank account.

Regardless of how you get any notification from PDRM about any traffic offence you may have committed, you should always check the status through these official MyBayar PDRM options:

MyBayar PDRM website : https://mybayar.rmp.gov.my/
MyBayar PDRM app for Android : Google Play Store
MyBayar PDRM app for iOS : Apple App Store

Please SHARE this warning with your family and friends!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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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PDRM Warning : Watch Out For MyBayar Scam!

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PDRM is warning motorists not to fall for the MyBayar scam! Here is what you need to know about the MyBayar PDRM scam!

PDRM Warning : Watch Out For MyBayar Scam

On 7 August 2023, the Cyber Crime division of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) posted an alert warning motorists not to fall for the MyBayar scam.

The MyBayar PDRM scam starts with an official-looking email that warns motorists that they have been caught contravening the law, and offers a cheap RM50 fine if paid within 5 days:

Last notice of contravention before prosecution

Dear recipient,

We are writing to draw your attention to a recent traffic violation in Malaysian jurisdiction.

Our traffic enforcement staff have observed your vehicle parked in a no-parking zone. This contravenes section (no. 2016-691] of the Road Traffic Act.

As a result of this infringement, a fine of MYR 50 has been imposed. This fine must be paid within 5 days of the date of this notification to avoid further legal consequences.

Failure to pay the fine within the allotted time may result in legal proceedings being taken against you, which could lead to increased fines, penalties and the possible suspension of your driving license.

MyBayar PDRM Scam : How Does It Work?!

Many people who received the MyBayar PDRM email might be shocked to find out that they were caught committing a traffic violation, and then relieved that it was only RM50 if they paid quickly.

That’s how the scammers trap their victims – by offering a cheap RM50 fine, when we all know that fines for traffic offences are at least RM150, and can go all the way up to RM1,000!

Those who received this fake MyBayar PDRM email would be tempted to quickly pay the cheap RM50 fine, before it becomes a lot more expensive!

But if you take a closer look at the email, you will spot some problems with it:

Weird English : The email title of “Last notice of contravention before prosecution” is nonsensical.
Typo in the name : The fake email used My Bayar PDRM, instead of MyBayar PDRM.
Lack of name and personal details : The fake email refers generically to “Dear recipient“, without listing your full name and MyKad number.
Lack of vehicle details : The fake email doesn’t mention the vehicle make and plate number.
Lack of location details : The fake email does not mention where the offence occurred, or even when it occurred.
Fine is much too low : PDRM traffic fines are never as low as RM50. The cheapest fine is RM150 for Category 4 offences, but you can pay as low as RM70 within 15 days.
No such law : The fake email refers to the Road Traffic Act. There is no such act in Malaysia. The proper name is the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333).
No such section : If you look at the Malaysia Road Transport Act 1987 (PDF download), you will see that there is no such thing as Section 2016-691.