Hello! We are reporting from San Francisco and Silicon Valley for this week. While staying here for RSA conference 2022, we are delighted to deliver you five news, which were carefully selected by us. We will be back with RSA conference news in the coming week. Have a beautiful weekend!
1. South Korean Authorities Cooperate to Protect Hospitals From Ransomware Attacks
South Korean authorities are putting their heads together to protect national university hospitals from cyber threats such as ransomware. According to a statement released to the press on Friday, the Ministry of Education announced that they are cooperating with the National Intelligence Service to enhance intelligence security measures related to national university hospitals. Cyber attacks against hospitals could lead to life threatening situations not only because software-based medical devices are used in medical treatments but also because patient’s medical records are managed online. To prevent future attacks, they are planning to reinforce information exchange between South Korea’s intelligence agency and the hospitals. A separate consultative group will also be formed to protect each hospital’s data.
2. National Assembly Strengthens the Law to Protect Victims of Smishing in South Korea
South Korea’s National Assembly has amended the Telecommunication Business Act to protect victims of smishing attacks from further damage. The new legislation allows the government to order telecommunication service providers to cut off the telecommunication numbers that have been attacked by smishing. Smishing is an attempt to collect personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers by sending malicious text messages. Offenders will face a penalty of up to three years in prison or 100 million won in fines under the new law. According to the National Assembly’s Bill Information, the revised law has been passed in the plenary session which was held on May 29. The new legal framework will take effect after deliberation from the Cabinet Council.
3. South Korea Gears Up to Protect Smart Factories From Cyber Attacks
The South Korean government launched a new cybersecurity program to protect smart factories in its nation. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) announced on Wednesday that the government began offering the “On-Site Security Living Lab” service to smart factories for the first time. Smart factories have become vulnerable to cyber attacks since the convergence between manufacturing systems and digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence and 5G telecommunications, took place. Last year, the MSIT and KISA built a living lab, which was specifically designed to test the levels of cybersecurity maturity at smart factories, and from this month, the lab will be offered on-site. The program includes cybersecurity tests and consultations. “Cyber attacks have constantly increased as digital transformation occurs, and smart factories should be ready to defend themselves against hacking,” said Kim Jeong-Sam, the policy officer of information security and network.
4. Luna Classic Holders Get Luna 2.0 From Airdrop in South Korea
South Korean Luna classic cryptocurrency holders are receiving an airdrop of the new Luna 2.0 tokens. An airdrop is a marketing strategy to promote a new token by distributing the cryptocurrency to specific investors’ wallets usually for free. Korbit, one of the largest cryptocurrency trading platforms in South Korea, announced on June 3 that they are going to distribute 30% of the scheduled amount of Luna 2.0 to existing Luna shareholders. The other four largest cryptocurrency exchanges are also giving out the new Luna tokens. However, this doesn’t imply that South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges are going to support trading of the Luna 2.0 token. Several cryptocurrencies specifically stated in online statements that airdrops don’t guarantee the trading service.
5. Crypto Prices Will Be Available on Mobile Banking App’s in South Korea
South Koreans will be able to check cryptocurrency prices in real-time through mobile banking applications. Bithumb, one of the largest South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges, announced on Tuesday that they had adopted an associate contract with NH bank. According to the statement released on May 31, the two partners will develop a service that will enable NH banks’ mobile application users to manage not only debits and loans but also view cryptocurrency price quotes. This is the first attempt by both the bank and the cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea. They are expecting to launch this service in the second half of the year.
