In 22 September 2022, Singtel Optus telecommunications giant (mobile, streaming, broadband) in Australia was hacked and suffered a data breach of 9.8M current and past customer records whose data were downloaded via unprotected API. AFP and FBI tried to catch the international criminal who put 10000 records on internet to get a $1M USD ransom. Many current and past customers had to change their ID records (passport, driver's licence, Medicare card) because criminals were impersonating them using the ID data and stealing their money and identity so they had to monitor their bank accounts for fraud for a year. They also had increased spam and calls from call centres.
It was very hard to get any support from Optus as current or past customer as their call centre was overloaded and was geared for customers not past customers so their Optus Cyberattack Portal and a single email from their CEO was only information apart from media releases. They refused to admit liability to stop their costs blowing out. Many customers left Optus.
Only their personal customers' data was hacked. None of their business customers' data was hacked showing they value business customers ahead of personal customers because the make more money from their business customers than their personal customers.
Their hoarding customer ID data backfired on them. They needed to upgrade their security system to use SSO not physical cards and identity over the counter.
Singapore is an IT hub for Southeast Asia. Because it is so small and condensed it is used a test bed for many IT rollouts in Southeast Asia by US or UK or Australian firms.
Many large US IT companies have their Southeast Asian base in Singapore e.g. IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Dell and Red Hat.
The Computer Chronicles - High Tech Singapore Part 1 (2002) - electronic education, libraries, tollways, car rentals, prison video links, mobile commerce using SMS or infrared for booking movie tickets or buying drinks or equipment, massager
Computer Chronicles - 19x41 - High Tech Singapore: Part 3 (2002) - wireless tablets, gaming, Philips Innovation Centre (DVD, streaming internet radio), animation with Flash, One North business park (all wifi), Soundblaster (Creative Technology), dual computer keyboard/piano keyboard
One colleague worked in Singapore in 1990s as a programmer soon after I started my business at Internet World, Darling Harbour, Sydney in 1997.
Singapore is next to Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Philippines and India so is used by those other countries to do IT training for them.
Changi Airport is a great port of call en route to UK or USA.
Singapore port is used to refit ships from around the world because it is cheaper than anywhere else.
Singapore is a strong financial hub for the region financing businesses in Australia e.g. Wilmar Sugar Refinery in Inkerman via Home Hill North Queensland.
Singapore finances power industry in South Australia and Victoria by owning power plants in those states.
In 1980s Dwight Walker visted Singapore and Johor Bahru Malaysia to visit rubber plantation on brief Southeast Asian tour from Brisbane.
Created 14 July 2017 23:54
Updated 27 Oct 2022 1:33