How safe is free public Wi-Fi?

President Rodrigo Duterte recently enacted a law providing free internet access in public places nationwide.

The law, which requires a mandated minimum internet speed per user of two megabits per second (2 Mbps) is expected to get more Filipinos online. However, logging in to a free Wi-Fi access may carry security risks.

Cyber security firm Kaspersky Lab has identified free Wi-Fi as one of the biggest security risks for computer and mobile internet users.

A 2016 survey of the firm revealed that 71 percent of respondents said they use unsecured public Wi-Fi in bars and fastfood restaurants.

Meanwhile, 15 percent use free public Wi-Fi for bank transactions and online payments.

Department of Information Communication Technology (DICT) Asst. Sec. Allan Cabanlong admitted that although there are risks in using free public Wi-Fi services, the government ensured that its project is safe for public use.

"We made sure that the free Wi-Fi of the DICT is only 100 mbps... For the hacker to use it, it may be questionable because 100 mbps is not enough to hack someone," he said.

Cabanlong advised the public to be wary of the public Wi-Fi providers by checking the names and spellings.

-ANC Future Perfect, August 09, 2017

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Duterte pushes lower tax rates, free WiFi

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday gave a rundown of his reform agenda which includes lowering taxes, solving traffic jams, and relaxing bank secrecy rules as he vowed economic growth that is felt by the poor.

In his first State of the Nation Address, Duterte said he hoped to leave an economy that is “much stronger” by the end of his six-year term in 2022.

“My administration will continue and maintain current macroeconomic policies and even do better,” he told lawmakers, top government officials and diplomats.

“We will achieve this through prudent fiscal and monetary policies that can help translate high growth into more and better job creation and poverty reduction,” he said.

A strong economy, Duterte said, is characterized by “solid growth, low and stable inflation, dollar reserves and robust fiscal position.”

TAXES, BANK SECRECY

Duterte said he would lower personal and corporate income taxes and shift to a “simpler, more equitable” tax system.

He did not elaborate, but his economic managers have said income tax rates could be lowered to 25 percent from as high as 32 percent.

“At the household level, there must be sufficient income for all Filipinos,” he said.

Duterte also said he would “relax” the bank secrecy law.

Last February, hackers shifted $81 million from Bangladesh’s foreign reserves to the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and then laundered in casinos, taking advantage of loopholes in the country’s banking and anti-money laundering laws.

TRANSPORT WOES

Duterte asked lawmakers for “emergency powers” to untangle crippling traffic jams in Metro Manila and listed down his plans to improve commuting in the capital city of 12 million people.

 "If you give it [emergency powers], fine; if not, we take the longer route, slowly, and tanggapin ko ‘yung pagmumura ninyo," he said.

The country loses P2.4 billion daily due to the traffic problem.

Additional powers may include doing away with public bidding for some projects and opening private subdivisions to traffic, according to his economic team.

Duterte said the transportation department would increase the number of trains on the Metro Rail Transit to 20 from the current 16 and increase train speeds to 60 kph from 40 kph.

Operating hours at the Light Rail Transit will be extended by an hour at night to 10:30 p.m. from 9:30 p.m.

The Pasig River ferry as an alternative mode of transport will be revived, he said.

General aviation will be transferred to Sangley Point to help decongest the main airport in Manila, and a railway will be constructed from the capital to Clark International Airport, an alternative gateway.

INTERNET, RED TAPE

Duterte ordered the drafting of a plan to install a national broadband infrastructure and said free wireless internet would be made available in public places.

He said he would reduce the processing time for issuing business permits and licenses "to the barest minimum," as he reiterated his order to crack down on red tape.

"In my city, it is always three days for local governments, that will bind the Office of the President down to barangay level," said the former Davao City mayor.

Motor vehicle plates should also be issued at the point of sale to prevent backlogs at the Land Transportation Office, he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Why Facebook is abuzz about a gas station toilet in Bohol

MANILA – Filipino-Canadian model Jason Godfrey said the toilet he recently visited at a gas station in Tagbilaran City, Bohol looks better than his room – or even his apartment.

And he may not be exaggerating. The Shell toilet he visited is not only well-lit, but is also filled with paintings, elegant fixtures and other opulent-looking items.

Godfrey gave his fans a glimpse of the toilet by recording a video and posting it on Facebook. The clip has more than 17,000 shares on the social media site as of writing.


“This toilet is better than my room. It’s better than my entire apartment, actually,” he said of the restroom, which has background music and smells like menthol.

Replying to some of his Facebook followers, Godfrey said the toilet even has free Wi-Fi.

Other netizens commented that Shell toilets in other parts of Bohol and Cebu also have the same features.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Want free city-wide Wi-Fi? Consider moving to Makati

MANILA, Philippines — Free Wi-Fi everywhere in the city? As the successful campaign propaganda of its former mayor — and now the country’s vice president — said, “Ganito kami sa Makati.”

The City Government of Makati announced on Thursday an ambitious initiative to blanket the entire city with Wi-Fi Internet connection — the first in the country — as part of a triumvirate of technology projects aiming to bring better public service to citizens of the country’s financial capital.

The rollout began at the seat of government in Makati, the city hall, which now offers free wireless Internet connection to residents and companies transacting with the local government powered by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.’s (PLDT) Wi-Fi Zone offering.

The project, unveiled in time for Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay’s 35th birthday on Thursday, will see 33 other barangays connected to the Web wirelessly thanks to the city’s partnership with PLDT and other telecom companies.

But before you go and pack your stuff to move to another city, Binay clarified that the IT initiative is still at its most nascent stages, with the local government eyeing pilot tests in two barangays to see how the rollout of Wi-Fi would pan out.

“Of course, there are cost considerations,” Binay told InterAksyon. “Medyo malaki ang gagastusin. At hindi pa rin naman namin nakikita kung ano ang magiging epekto nito, so gusto muna naming i-pilot sa ilang barangay (The cost is relatively large. And we also have to see what the effect will be, so first we want to pilot the project in some barangay) and we’ll pick it up from there.”

Currently existing, the young mayor said, is a fiber loop infrastructure within the city that would eventually be used as a backbone should the eventual city-wide rollout of the wireless Internet project takes place.

The fast Internet connection will also be used in monitoring certain government processes, such as business registration within the city. Right now, Binay said they are looking into implementing a tracking system for the application of business permits, so that they can pinpoint where in the entire process bottlenecks — and often, corruption — occur.

“One key reason for that is to ease the conduct of business within our city,” the Makati mayor said, admitting that they have not fared well in this area in recent years. “Though we have about 40,000 business establishments here, we hope to increase that by making it easy for them to file their business permits.”

Initially, the wireless Internet access will be used in ensuring that government transactions are done smoothly and conveniently, but Binay said he is eyeing distribution of prepaid cards to students of Makati so they can log on to the Internet to help in their studies.

In conjunction with the wireless connectivity project launch, the Makati City government likewise unveiled its own Twitter account, @MakatiTraffic, which will give commuters and motorists updates about the traffic situation in Makati.

Notorious for its traffic jams especially during rush hours, Makati’s first foray into social media aims to provide “real-time information and advisories” to road users, particularly in major road arteries that cut through the city.

Also presented during Thursday’s event was the revitalized Makati website (http://www.makati.gov.ph), which makes finding information about the city’s services and attractions easier with just a click of a button.

Binay, who claimed to be a firm believer in the use of technology in furthering public service, said such initiatives “will make governance more efficient” and would reduce the proverbial red-tape as well as incidents of corruption within the city government.

“We recognize that embracing modern technology is the fastest way to achieve inclusive progress and equitable growth in this age of globalization,” he added.

source: interaksyon.com