Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Tougher penalties for online criminals suggested
In the first half of 2007, IT experts recorded 124 new viruses and nearly 432,000 computers infected with spyware and more than 2.8 others attacked by viruses through USB and Yahoo Messenger.
VietNamNet Bridge – Online criminals are developing broadly while the laws on this field are insufficient. Violators who cause serious consequences are imprisoned for 2-7 years only and fines are no more than VND100 million ($6,200).
Online criminals in Vietnam are on the rise in number and getting more serious. In the first half of 2007, IT experts recorded 124 new viruses and nearly 432,000 computers infected with spyware and more than 2.8 others attacked by viruses through USB and Yahoo Messenger. The websites of many companies were attacked.
The most serious case was the one discovered in early January 2008, in which some hi-tech criminals were arrested for stealing passwords of international credit cards. The latest attack on website chodientu.com forced this e-commerce site to idle for a long time, causing heavy losses for the firm.
However, experts said that the skills of Vietnamese online criminals are not high. Most local hackers are very young and they don’t think about the consequences of their actions. They often use “primitive” techniques so they are discovered easily.
Nguyen Quang Huy, who is being charged with attacking chodientu.com, and is considered the top hacker in Vietnam, also committed fundamental mistakes when he used his home PC and didn’t delete log file when he seized control of the attacked server
However, Vietnamese online criminals are getting more professional; most crimes now take place in the online environment, not on the PCs of victims. Hackers tend to use more spyware and worms and attack small businesses, which have poor network security.
Losses of US$5.625 million per year
Losses for computer users caused by viruses are estimated at around VND496,000/person/year. If each computer needs $2 to deal with a virus, with 2.8 million infected PCs last year, the total losses were $5.6 million.
One of the reasons that facilitate the development of online criminals is a shortage of laws to combat this kind of criminal. Online criminals are developing broadly while the laws on this field are insufficient. Violators who cause serious consequences are imprisoned for 2-7 years only and fines are no more than VND100 million ($6,200). These penalties are very gentle and do not match the losses caused by online criminals.
Oracle opens Hanoi Academy for IT training
Oracle, a leading U.S. provider of enterprise software applications, today launched the Oracle Academy of the Hanoi University and Hanoi University of Commerce.
Representatives of the universities and Oracle signed the Oracle Academy Cooperation Program agreement, which will provide the universities’ students with real-world learning experiences to prepare them to fill key technical jobs in the global knowledge economy, such as software developers, database administrators, project managers, business analysts and managers and systems designers.
The program also provides faculties with professional development resources and opportunities to collaborate with peers and share best teaching practices.
U.S Ambassador to Viet Nam Michael W. Michalak participated in the launch of the new Oracle Academy. He congratulated the participating institutions for addressing the critical developmental need of improving information technology education and skills in the nation. He also noted the leadership that the Vietnamese Government has demonstrated in this area, according to a press release from the U.S. Embassy.
Earlier this year, the Ambassador launched a U.S. Embassy Education Initiative to enhance educational cooperation between the two countries. Major goals of the Education Initiative include helping to increase competence and skill in the field of information technology and introducing more American curricula in Viet Nam.
Launched in 1997 as one of the most comprehensive academic offerings in the information technology industry, the Oracle Academy has partnered with more than 3,400 institutions and supported 397,000 students across 83 countries
IDG Ventures Vietnam, IT Farm move into semiconductor
The venture capital funds IDG Ventures Vietnam (IDGVV) and Japan's IT Farm Corp. have announced their investment in Global Equipment Services Joint-Stock Co. (GES) to assist in semiconductor plans in HCMC's Saigon Hi-tech Park.
GES's chief executive officer Don Tran said the funds would help provide full production services to customers of the joint venture between U.S. and Vietnamese partners, which specializes in semiconductors, fluoropolymers, and solar energy equipments.
"The finance and experience of the funds will facilitate GES's investment in equipment used for semiconductor production in Vietnam and expand the customer system globally," Tran said.
The funds did not disclose their investment in GES. However, IDGVV's General Director Nguyen Bao Hoang said the investment in GES was the leading project in the list of 25 projects invested by IDGVV.
Hoang stressed that the investment in GES marked a milestone of IDGVV's expansion into semiconductor production.
IT Farm Corp. is a Japanese venture capital fund that supports the establishment and development of young global enterprises in information technology, especially private firms in their early stages of development.
Morio Kurosaki, President and CEO of IT Farm Corp., said semiconductor and solar energy were among the prioritized technology fields that need continuous investment for developing services, and enhancing competitiveness.
"We target such a market segment, so we are willing to back GES's ambitious plans," Kurosaki said.
So far, GES has mobilized funds to build a production and technology center covering more than 30,000 square meters in HCMC's Saigon Hi-tech Park in District 9 to support its global business plans.
Founded in June 2006, GES follows a complete process of production, design, and operation of semiconductor production, Fluoropolymers Division, and solar energy equipments. The U.S.-headquartered company has branched out to Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Post-harvest rice technologies top talks
Software piracy is a tough nut to crack
23:31' 01/05/2008 (GMT+7) | ||
The Business Software Alliance (BSA) presented the new figures during a recent conference in Danang, and warned that the country's high level of software piracy was negatively impacting the economy. |
Monday, 28 April 2008
2008 Sao Khue Awards honour leading software individuals and businesses
VietNamNet Bridge - The Sao Khue Awards have been presented to 47 individuals, organisations and businesses, who have made a significant contribution to developing Vietnam’s software industry and information and communications technologies (ICT).
The fifth Sao Khue Awards ceremony took place in Hanoi on April 27 in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan as well as the wining individuals and businesses.
The Sao Khue Awards ceremony has been held by the Vietnam Software Association (VINASA) since 2003 to honour individuals, organisations and businesses who have promoted outstanding software products.
In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan praised the efforts made by the sector in producing advanced software programmes to serve the country’s socio-economic development needs.
Although the Vietnamese software industry’s earnings reached US$500 million in 2007, a four-fold increase over the 2003 level of US$120 million, the country is facing major opportunities and challenges in the international integration process. Therefore, the ICT sector needs to devise a long-term development strategy with a focus on developing human resources so that Vietnam will have approximately 1 million competent ICT employees by 2015, said Mr Nhan.
The 2008 Sao Khue Awards included 8 prizes for individuals, 8 prizes for outstanding software businesses, 17 prizes for commercial software products, 4 prizes for software services, 3 prizes for e-commerce products and 7 prizes for new software products.
Among the 47 Sao Khue Award winners, only one individual was honoured. He is Chu Hao, former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology and former Head of National Steering Committee for Information Technology (NSCIT).
A new feature of the Sao Khue Awards was that “The Golden partner of Vietnam’s software industry” title was presented for the first time to eight International ICT groups, including IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Motorola, HitachiSoft, Canon IT Solutions, Harvey Nash and Agilis.
The businesses receiving the Sao Khue Awards will be supported by VINASA in order to develop their trademarks and expand their markets.
Friday, 25 April 2008
Local social networks and financial worries
VietNamNet Bridge – Social networks are mushrooming in Vietnam and all of them are trying to lure members. They are ready to invest without profit for 1-2 years to earn millions of USD in the future.
Vietnamese websites which allow users to create their own contents like Ngoisaoblog.com, Clip.vn, Cyworld.vn, Yobanbe.vn, Cyvee.com, Phununet.com, Henantrua.com, etc. are being invested in by adventure investment funds, local firms or funds from groups of people sharing the same interests.
The first pressure for any social network is the number of members who join the site to share articles, music, video clips, pictures, etc. More access to the site means higher expenditures for hiring server (around $200 for 100GB per month), except for other expenditures for staff, office, telephone, Internet, equipment, etc.
“We have been operating for nearly two years as a free, attractive playground for the young, but it is time for us to seek ideas or advertisements to create revenues,” said a representative of Ngoisaoblog.
Two major money-making solutions used by social networks are online advertisement and selling accompanied services. Most social networks in Vietnam are selling advertisements, for example Clip.vn with banners on its page and inside video clips. Phununet.com, a social network for Vietnamese women, has signed tens of advertising contracts.
Cyworld, meanwhile, earns real money from selling online assets. Users can buy virtual assets on Cyworld by sending SMS to buy chestnuts, which is used as money to buy furniture, pets, landscapes and even friends to decorate their online houses.
Henantrua.com is a newcomer but to become a member, users have to send SMS to activate their membership. However, as users hope to have a lunch date with a girl or a boy through Henantrua, this social network may develop. To attend a Henantrua offline event, members have to pay VND100,000/event. This site also sells online assets like motorbikes, etc.
To earn high revenues, social networks in Vietnam will have to use both of the above models. “We have just signed a strategic partnership contract with AdMax, Asia’s top online advertising network, to launch an online advertising channel for Vietnamese women. We also have online services on PhunuNet.com and LopViet.com where transaction fees are calculated based on virtual currency MCoin,” said Harry Do, General Director of Vinalive, the owner of phununet.com.
“Members can do business and earn money through cookery or shopping guides, etc. We have accepted investing in the site for 1-2 years for big achievements in the future,” he added.