Musk’s Starlink lands in Malaysia

Elon musk's Starlink satellite internet is now available for subscription in Malaysia #starlink

Just landed: Starlink announced its arrival in Malaysia with a photo of its electronic phased array antenna set against a backdrop of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur. — @Starlink/Twitter

PETALING JAYA: Starlink’s satellite-based broadband service is now available in Malaysia, following the Prime Minister’s virtual meeting with Elon Musk on July 14.

This makes Malaysia the 60th country to be served by the Musk-owned satellite constellation.

The service, which doesn’t come with a contract, requires users to self-install the hardware and purchase the starter kit.

Customers can try out its service for 30 days and return the hardware for a full refund if they are not satisfied with it.

In an announcement on July 20, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that Malaysia issued the licence to allow Starlink to provide Internet services locally.

He added that the government is prepared to cooperate with satellite communication firms such as Starlink to achieve 100% Internet coverage in populated areas.

However, Dr Sean Seah, Malaysian Space Industry Corporation (Masic) pro tem deputy president, is concerned that Starlink’s entry could put local companies at a disadvantage.

"Furthermore, currently Malaysia has achieved more than 96% nationwide Internet connectivity coverage (Malaysia Stats Dept 2022) with services from Malaysian companies without Starlink."

"Chances must be given to local companies that have invested billions, before bringing in Starlink to compete with them," he said.

He also claimed that Malaysia may be exposed and risks being under "surveillance" or "profiling" by Starlink satellites, adding that they are also "not owned, controlled, or regulated" by Malaysian regulators and law enforcement, and Starlink has been given a "special exemption" to operate in Malaysia as a 100% foreign-owned entity.

"This may lead to national sovereignty issues," Seah said in a statement.

Starlink’s Starlink Kit comes with an electronic phased array antenna with a base suited for ground installation, a WiFi router and cables.

The standard version, which Starlink recommends for “residential users and everyday Internet applications” costs RM2,300.

The high-performance kit, which is priced at RM11,613, is recommended for “power users and enterprise applications”.

Starlink claimed that the high-performance kit offers improved weather resistance, three times better speeds at temperatures above 35°C and better visibility, especially in areas with unavoidable obstructions.

Starlink’s Internet plan offers up to 100Mbps (megabits per second) download speed and costs RM220 monthly.

Customers will also have to pay an additional RM100 for shipping and handling fees, with delivery times expected to be between one and two weeks.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim held a discussion with Musk on July 14, welcoming the company’s decision to invest in Malaysia, which includes launching Tesla EVs and Starlink.

In an online report, Anwar said that he has ordered 40 Starlink sets for schools, colleges and universities.

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Six simple steps to defend your data from ransomware

Ransomware blackmails Internet users by encrypting the files on their computer or mobile device and demanding payment, generally in the virtual currency bitcoin, to unlock them. — dpa

Recent ransomware attacks have rattled internet users around the world. This malicious software blackmails users by encrypting the files on their computer or mobile device and demanding payment, generally in the virtual currency bitcoin, to unlock them. But these six simple security measures can significantly reduce the risk of a computer being hit by an attack.

1. Regular updates: Software updates for browsers and operating systems don't just add new functions – they also install security patches to protect computers against the latest malicious software.

The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) recommends enabling automatic updates on a device and advises against the use of older operating systems such as Windows XP, for which Microsoft has stopped providing regular security updates.

Microsoft will also discontinue updates for the operating system's successor, Windows Vista, this summer – all the more reason to replace it with a newer version.

2. Be vigilant: Don't trust anyone, says nomoreransom.org, a website run by IT security companies and European law enforcement. Never open email attachments from suspicious accounts, don't click on questionable links and don't download unverified software.

Even emails from friends and co-workers should not necessarily be trusted. Before opening an attachment or clicking on a link, always take time to consider whether the sender's online account could have been hacked or their computer software infiltrated by malicious software.

3. Antivirus software: Enable all the security applications in your operating system, advises the BSI. Reliable antivirus software can provide further protection, but must be kept up-to-date.

4. Back up data: Creating digital duplicates of your files can protect your personal information from disappearing forever. In the event of an attack, you can just transfer over your back-up files.

Windows (Backup and Restore) and MacOS (Time Machine) have in-built applications for backing up your data, but they might not be accessible in the event of an attack. A more secure option would be to save your files in an external device, such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive, DVD, or in the cloud.

To reduce the risk of spreading viruses, only connect the external drive to a device during file transfers. As an extra precaution, save your data in two separate external hard drives.

5. Fight back: If you happen to accidentally install malicious software or receive suspicious messages, immediately disconnect your device from the internet, instructs  nomoreransom.org. to be decrypted. This will prevent the infection from spreading.

You can then run a clean installation of your computer software, and transfer over your back-up files. For some types of ransomware, there are techniques to unlock the content on your computer.

The latest malware outbreak "Petya" can be stopped by creating the read-only filetype "C:\Windows\perfc.dat," which prevents it from scrambling your files. An initial report on the antidote published on the site bleepingcomputer.com has since been confirm by several IT security companies.

6. Never pay: A blackmailer's demands should never be met, says the State Office of Criminal Investigation (LKA) of Lower Saxony. There are several reasons for this, the LKA reports. First, even if you pay the ransom, there is no guarantee that you will regain access to your files.

Second, by paying the attacker, you are supporting the growth of a criminal industry. Every payment finances new attacks. In the case of the recent Petya outbreak, the payment system is useless, because only one email address was provided, which has since been shut down by the provider. — dpa

Related Links

Six simple steps to protect your data from ransomware

Six simple methods to save your information from ransomware http://www.techagentmedia.com/six-simple-methods-save-information-ransomware/ via @techagentmedia


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