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WhatsApp and other apps have been banned from the mobile phones of Hong Kong’s civil servants. Photo: Shutterstock

Editorial | Hong Kong’s civil servants get the app safety message

More secure services are needed for Hong Kong staff with the removal of unauthorised communication tools from work computers.

Northern Ireland jails man who abused up to 3,500 girls online

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Hong Kong civil service ban on WhatsApp, WeChat won’t hinder work: minister

Hong Kong civil service restrictions on WhatsApp, WeChat necessary, experts say

Experts also call on government to improve risk intelligence systems and employee cybersecurity awareness.

Personal awareness is the “weakest link” in cybersecurity, an expert says Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong restricts civil servants from using WhatsApp, WeChat at work

‘Desktops used internally in the government cannot have instant messaging services such as WhatsApp or WeChat, as they carry severe internet safety risks,’ minister says.

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81 Hongkongers swindled out of HK$12 million in online job scams in past week

One victim duped out of more than HK$400,000 in click farming job scam after receiving WhatsApp message, police say.

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Enticed by a fake ad, a Malaysian man lost US$6,000 in a sperm ‘lending’ scam

The scam exploited the victim’s poor literacy and used a local law firm’s name to appear legitimate.

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Enticed by a fake ad, a Malaysian man lost 24,000 ringgit in a sperm ‘lending’ scam. Photo: Shutterstock

Meta’s chatbot will speak in voices of celebrities like Awkwafina

Meta’s new feature comes after rival OpenAI introduced a ChatGPT voice that sounded like actress Scarlett Johansson, without her consent.

Fake ‘Brad Pitt’ scams 2 women in Spain of more than US$360,000

Posing as the US actor, gang members allegedly promised a future with Pitt and proposed the women invest in projects that did not exist.

Telegram messaging app CEO Pavel Durov arrested in France

Investigators allege the Russian-born billionaire’s platform has been used for money laundering and drug trafficking, among other offences.

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Telegram CEO Pavel Durov delivers a keynote speech during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in February 2016. Photo: Reuters

Pakistan’s internet slowdown decried by investors and activists

Activists and business leaders decry the move by Pakistan’s government, saying the crackdown risks the country’s economic recovery.

People work near the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) headquarters building in Islamabad on August 16, 2024. Photo: AFP

AI has made Hongkongers more vulnerable to fraud but is also used to fight back

Fraudsters are using AI to convincingly portray themselves as acquaintances and steal digital identities, driving demand for hi-tech cybersecurity solutions.

Nearly 100 dead as renewed anti-government protests rock Bangladesh

Bangladesh tightened a nationwide curfew and ordered a shutdown of mobile internet services to quell deadly protests.

Opinion | China’s tourism policy must now go beyond visa-free travel

China must make it easier for foreigners to experience the country and citizens to travel abroad if it wants to reconnect with the world.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

Ex-BBC anchor Huw Edwards pleads guilty to indecent child images charges

Edwards was the BBC’s highest paid journalist and top news anchor until he quit in April, following allegations he had paid a young person thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos

Former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, UK on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

TikTok fails to reverse EU decision that labelled it a ‘gatekeeper’ platform

TikTok owner ByteDance has lost a legal challenge that sought to reverse a European Union decision that the firm should not favour its own service over rivals.

EU warns Meta over paid ad-free option on Instagram, Facebook

The company could face fines worth 10 per cent of its annual global revenues for breaching the Digital Markets Act.

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Explainer | How to stay safe online with fraudsters targeting Hong Kong users of Instagram

Post examines the latest trends and ways to guard against online fraudsters.

There is a rising trend of SMS messages asking users to reset passwords to allegedly hacked accounts, an expert has warned. Photo: Shutterstock

‘This is dangerous’: Ulu Tiram attack spotlights Malaysia’s Isis sympathisers

Initial reports linked Friday’s ‘lone wolf’ attack on a police station in Johor Bahru to al-Qaeda affiliate Jemaah Islamiah, but extremism experts say young Southeast Asians prefer pro-Islamic State groups.

Hong Kong teacher ‘visited foot massage parlour not prostitutes on Wuhan trip’

Secondary school teacher was visiting massage parlour in his free time when police conducted a surprise operation there, according to Facebook post.

Why new Meta AI chatbot could make Instagram, WhatsApp dangerous

Meta AI recently brought assistants powered by generative AI to Instagram and WhatsApp. But beyond helping personalise social media, the technology may threaten democracy, and even freedom of speech.

Meta AI recently brought generative AI-powered assistants to Instagram and WhatsApp, but rather than improving things, the technology may make social media a stronger tool for scammers, and constitute a threat to free speech. Photo: Shutterstock

Apple removes Meta’s WhatsApp and Threads services from China App Store

Chinese regulatory authorities had ordered the removal of those two apps over national security concerns, according to Apple.

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Apple’s App Store icon seen on an iPad screen. Photo: Shutterstock

Fraudsters pose as HKMA to part Hongkongers from their money via WhatsApp

Scam operators seemingly thumb their noses at the regulator, which recently launched a campaign warning the public about financial frauds.

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Hongkonger in her 80s conned into buying iTunes gift cards in romance scam

Victim fell for the scam after she developed online romantic relationship with swindler posing as Canadian engineer, police say.

Online sex abuse of 11-year-old Hong Kong girl sparks police warning to parents

11-year-old girl suffers online sex abuse after she met man on internet gaming site, police say.

The online sexual exploitation of an 11-year-old girl has sparked a police warning to parents to monitor internet use by children. Photo: Shutterstock

English court jails first ‘cyberflasher’ under online safety laws

The first person convicted of cyberflashing in England and Wales was sentenced to 66 weeks in prison after he sent unsolicited explicit photos of his genitals over WhatsApp.

Nicholas Hawkes. Photo: Essex Police via AP

My Take | Why a walled internet may prove damaging for China’s future

Foreigners having trouble making mobile payments in China is just a trivial issue when it comes to the cost of its walled internet.

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Being scammed? Potential victims to get alerts from Hong Kong police Scameter app

Reported scam losses hit HK$5.49 billion last year with fraudsters changing methods to trick victims.

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last updated:
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