To Certain The Uncertainties

Dear Valued Customer,

The management of Maybank regrets to inform you that your account will be blocked for security reasons as we discovered a serious problem with your account and system security.

Reactivate your account now by following the below secured location. Please click here. 

Inactive accounts will be terminated within 2 hours of notice. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Sincerely,

Maybank Berhad.

Online banking? Yes, it's convenience. Answered an impostor :-)

I bet at least once, you have received similar phishing email camouflaged as a trustworthy entity attempting to acquire your username and password. Of course you will not be fooled and will not “reactivate” your account as told.  Although the success rate is extremely low, to lure the unsuspecting, a phishing kingpin, Valdir Paulo de Almeida (finally arrested in Brazil for leading one of the largest phishing crime rings), in two years have stolen between US$18 million and US$37 million.

Terms & Conditions: Take It or Leave It!

For banks, they’re pretty safe because account holders are forced to accept terms and conditions set by the banks and risk themselves for any fraudulent of account-theft, free the bank from any liability even on the imitation webpage which look exactly the same like the one the legitimate bank offers. The bank manager explains, “You shouldn’t reveal your username and password to anyone at anytime and at any circumstances.” By that, the bank confirms it’s your fault, and you have to accept your fate of losing your money that they kept.

My last topic “Killer and Numbered Account” brought up a question. For numbered accounts, is there any possibility to implement biometrics verification such as FingerTec OFIS as an added security feature to prevent account-theft? 

FingerTec OFIS (System Diagram) 

The answer is apparent, a NO. Even if the Swiss banks agreed to adopt biometrics identification, the approvals of account holders are impossible to obtain because anonymity is a privilege in these banks.

How about ordinary people who wish to keep their hard-earned money safe in the banks? If a bank wished to embed fingerprint modules to enhance security in their ATM machines or offered a fingerprint device such as FingerTec OFIS to customers to verify their identity before making any transaction online, of course I would contemplate on the idea of whether FingerTec got the job or not. 

Secure The Customers, Not The Money

Why are the banks still adamant not to improve their security systems although the account-theft have cost multimillion-dollar losses every year whereas the state-of-the-art technology is available in the market? The only viable explanation to this is the fact that the loss is on the expense of customers, not the bankers.

Online banking is definitely a current trend in banking. You’re not required to physically appear at the bank to withdraw money from your own account or to do transfers, paying bills, buying shares, and etc; all the transactions are done remotely by typing a set of alphanumeric codes on a keyboard. Do you feel safe?

An earlier famous quote for the Internet era, “On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.” Yes, it is possible to train a smart robotic dog likes AIBO to sit behind a computer to steal money from your bank. :-)

To certain the uncertainties, this is the challenge for remote identity verification system. And the FingerTec OFIS (Online Fingerprint Identification System) is the ideal logical access control  solution to prove that that is actually a real human being with confirmed identity doing the transactions from a remote site. 

by Teh Hon Seng, CEO, FingerTec HQ

Killer and Numbered Account

The Most Famous Man of the Year – The Killer, Moon.

He didn’t take any single hired job, but he established his own website to invite the public to collectively pay and hire him as a killer to assassinate the infamous public figures.

Do you want to get rid off a corrupt politician whom you’re unable to do it on your own?

Are you willing to take a side when we refer to it as public justice?

Do you wish for these wicked criminals to vanish from the city? 

Contribute any amount of your money, your conscience, and the most precious part of your soul. Once the Swiss Bank’s numbered account confirmed the sponsorship reaches its bottom line, the justice will be loaded with bullets to aim at the target.

BANG!

“Moon in action.” Once again it becomes the headline in newspapers.

“Moon got it, again!” There were close-ups coverage of news for the next six-month.   

I translated the above excerpt from a Chinese novel, “Killer”, written by Giddens (九把刀), who also is one of my favorite authors.

Gidden’s novels are filled with fascinating, imaginative and creative works backed up with strong logics. The narrations and dialogues flow smoothly, with surprising twists and turns along the story. I like this particular plot, because it offers a way out for common injustices occurring everywhere in the world.

Would you ever sponsor a justice-killer to slay the most corrupt politician, or the evil corporate figure that’s been swindling money from the public, who couldn’t be brought down by the legal system? 

Legal System: Legalize The Illegals?  

The killing acts of Moon indignantly defy the inefficient authorities and judiciary system and make them a laughing stock, but the massive contribution from the public can also be diagnosed as a mass vengeance from the depressed majority. No doubt, by wiring money to Moon, contributors have the potential to be charged as an accomplice under the penal code.

Just like a lot of corrupt and filthy monies stashed away in Swiss banks, the sponsorship for the Moon’s killing assignments and his identity is well protected under an anonymous numbered account; no matter how hard the authority pushes the envelope to demand a disclosure of the name list.

Banking in Switzerland is characterized by its stability, privacy and protection of clients' assets and information. Similar to my last month’s discussion topic “Privacy vs. Transparency”, if information in relation to public interest, we promote transparency as check and balance for accountability. In reverse, personal information can be kept to oneself as far as privacy and basic human right is concerned

.

Privacy May Contradict To Public Interest

Life is full of contradiction. Can a dictator’s privately owned numbered account still be categorized as classified information, which the bank has the rights not to divulge to investigators?

I can expect a lot of arguments from different viewpoints. I discontinue the discussion here to let you do your own thinking.

I switch the topic to discuss a little on the numbered account service offered by Swiss banks and some other countries such as Andorra, Austria, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Latvia and Panama. The key feature of numbered accounts is that the customer’s name does not show on bank statements, only the number and code-name are available. This means, if bank statements are lost or stolen, the account holder is protected. The identity of a numbered account holder is only made known to a limited few in the bank.

Although Swiss banks have strict anti-money-laundering rules and laws, still, numbered accounts have been used for criminal activities, like corrupt politicians hiding money embezzled from citizens. 

FingerTec OFIS - Online Fingerprint Identification System

I end my topic with a very simple question: For numbered accounts, is there any possibility to implement biometrics verification such as FingerTec OFIS as an added security feature to prevent account-theft?

by Teh Hon Seng, CEO, FingerTec HQ

The Eight Wonders

I’m not here to introduce an additional new Wonder to the existing Seven Wonders, and it’s nothing to do with tourism either; but rather an adoption of the name based on the concept of the remarkable manmade creations that did wonder to the mankind civilization.

Yes, it is all about our Eight Support Websites to work as our core platform, and how it delivers wonders to FingerTec's resellers and its end users.

Virtual Delivers Reality

To some outsiders, they seemed surprise when I told them we export FingerTec products to a hundred countries merely by deploying our Internet support system. Neither we set up any regional office, nor we travel for face-to-face meeting with our resellers to conduct any technical support or sales training abroad.

By using email, MSN, and Skype as communication tools, and our monthly eNewsletter to disseminate FingerTec latest news; the Eight Support Websites, play its designated role in covering almost everything that resellers would need to move the FingerTec business. Though now everything is up and available, it takes years of hard work to get there.

How to use the websites? Some resellers are fully aware of the treasures and totally make use of them without requiring further guidance from us; but some did write to us whenever they encountered unique problems, required us to prompt them to the right document(s); and some hardly refer to these useful information.

The Two Deployment Techniques

I have two suggestions for better expedition. First, especially for distributors who have appointed some dealers themselves, they should take an initiative to help their dealers to register as members, encourage them to share the same resources.

Second, push the resources out rather than waiting for them (your dealers) to come around. If you’re a distributor, besides encouraging your dealers to take the tour, you may also from time to time pluck one or two pieces of information, forward them the links or as download files. For example, every dealer needs product presentation’s PowerPoint or some training documents. Retrieve them from our Sales Website (http://sales.fingertec.com); or at our Training Website (http://training.fingertec.com) and forward these documents to them, it would definitely entice them to visit the resources.

The Concise of The Eight Wonders

1. Product (http://product.fingertec.com)

This site displays all FingerTec models in What You See Is What You Get (WGSIWYG) format, including all items provided in the package. To check on any discrepancy in packages you received from us, please refer to this site.

2. Accessory (http://accessory.fingertec.com)

This site displays a wide range of accessories; some exclusively designed by FingerTec and some are offered to our resellers for easier sourcing, so they can make FingerTec products a complete solution for access control or for time & attendance system.

3. Marketing Material (http://material.fingertec.com)

This site is for resellers to request brochures, posters, buntings, backdrops, and all kinds of marketing materials. We will consolidate shipping with your product's order to save transportation cost.

4. User Support (http://user.fingertec.com)

This site helps the resellers to support end-users. Troubleshooting for hardware and software, software upgrades download and etc, are meant to reduce your support cost.

5. Technical Tips (http://tips.fingertec.com)

This technical site provides FAQ, troubleshooting, basic reader repairs, advanced repair program, diagrams, firmware and software downloads, tips that solve all kinds of technical problems. (For members only)

6. Sales Information (http://sales.fingertec.com)

This site is for resellers to download all kinds of sales literature that range from product presentation, sample project proposals, sample ads design, and etc., for pre-sales purposes. (For members only)

7. Training (http://training.fingertec.com)

This site provides all kinds of training literature ranging from sales training, products training, technical training to end-user training in order to help resellers to conduct effective training class. (For members only)

8. Warranty (http://warranty.fingertec.com)

This site is for resellers to claim warranty parts and to request quotation for parts and services related to FingerTec products. (For members only)

My advice is, the more you tap on the websites; the better you’ll find them helping you to grow your business. Share the resources, and spread the materials around to your dealers and customers, it would do wonder beyond expectations.

Enrich The Future Value

The difference between the Seven Wonders and the Eight FingerTec Wonders is, the former stays as they are as the witness of the mankind's history, anything added to it would spoil its true nature value; but for the latter, the value will increase through our ongoing content enrichment process at all times.

We’re kind to share the treasure with you; you’re most welcome to grab whatever you want!

by Teh Hon Seng, CEO, FingerTec HQ

Dubai: Uprising Dream Hits The Ceiling

Burj Dubai, the tallest skyscraper in the world (computer image)

There is a prophecy saying the economic crisis will hit hard once a country built the tallest building in the world. It’s true to witness the opening of the then world’s highest Empire State Building in New York in the stumbling Great Depression in 1931.  The Petronas Twin Towers of Malaysia celebrated its world’s tallest in 1997, and the Asia Economic Crisis descended the following year without warning. The Taipei’s 101 Tower overtook Malaysia’s record, its construction was in the middle of the Dot-Com Bubble burst in 2000 that affected Taiwan which was economy heavily depended on IT industry.

Now, the same omen seemed to haunt Dubai. The Burj Dubai was shot up into the Emirates’ skyline; currently stood at 818 meter high and could be higher. The jubilant of achieving the world’s record might not been felt at all, because the people in Dubai have already been slapped hard by the sloppy economy. Due to the job-cuts, a report says averagely 5000 expatriates fled the country everyday. Some even left their unworthy loaned cars behind unreclaimed which have piled up the parking bays of the new airport.

I flew the Emirates to Dubai with just a quarter of seats taken, but full occupancy when I returned to Kuala Lumpur. Some says the situation could be worsened in the next 6 months. A furrowed taxi driver told me his passengers were reduced by 40%, the shopping malls garnered thinner crowds than the previous years.

In fact, when a bubble is blown overly too large, it’s just a matter of time to expect a burst. When ones’ earnings cannot justify their extravaganza lifestyle, the credit chunk will crush anytime.

But some Emiratis welcomes the slowdown. "This is a blessing; we need it," Abdul Khaleq Abdullah, a political science professor at United Arab Emirates University, said of the fiscal crisis in an interview. "The city needs to slow down and relax. It's good for the identity of our country.” Emiratis have fretted for years over the loss of their culture, as social norms became more a product of the newcomers than of the nationals. Now, some are pinning their desires for a cultural salvation on the global economic downturn, which they hope will give them a chance to reassert their customs and way of life.

Mr. Benasir (right) from FingerTec and Abbas from Seven Seas, Dubai

Mr. Ali Jaffal (left) from Palestine and Dr. Riyadh from Iraq 

Mr. Maher Deiri (right) from Syria

Visitors from GCC countries at our booth

Despite the slowdown, our booth at the three-day InterSec Show still drew quite an extensive sum of visitors mainly from the Middle East and North Africa. Some FingerTec partners, direct or indirect, to name a few, like Dr. Riyadh of Al Salam Co. from Iraq; Mr Maher of New Al-Mawared Co. from Syria; Mr. Khalil of Betalink Technology from Yemen; Mr. Hazim of UltraTech from Sudan; Mr. Ali Jaffal of Jaffal Group from Palestine; Mr. Abdelhak of ADC Electronique from Algeria; Eng. Abbas M. Hussein of Larsa Trading, Mr. Tahir of Nice Technology and Mr. Tabish of The Ghazi Khoory Group from UAE; dropped by to say hello; not forgetting to mention Mr. Faisal from IPTEC and Mr Pillai and Mr. Abbas from Seven Seas in Dubai helping us at our stand.  When FingerTec gains its popularity over here, the exhibition booth is also a meeting point for our partners to meet us and share their market experiences, besides drawing in some new prospects. 

The economic downturn no doubt is taking some effects on Dubai, but the overall impact does not really spread to the other parts of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries (yet?), I still expect the market bullish for FingerTec products in this region this year.

Next year, for the same show, we’ll come again.

by Teh Hon Seng, CEO, FingerTec HQ

Privacy Vs Transparency

Do you have a habit of writing a diary? If you didn’t, it doesn’t matter; your government may already help you to write one and detailing your daily activities without your knowledge.

Big Brother is watching you

Big Brother is always Watching You and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. This is a fictitious scenario described in famous George Orwell’s futuristic novel “1984” wrote actually in 1949 telling a tale happened in 1984. In fact, the surreal becomes real when the Iron-Curtain countries slowly formed after the World War II in 1945, and their people were being closely monitored to shut the influence from the Free World.  

When the Russian Federation was established following the dissolution of Soviet Union in 1991, it ended the Cold War. Peace arrived, the world was merged again into one, and the terrifying Big Brother machinery was disintegrated. The optimists proclaimed.

The Clash of Civilizations

But Samuel P. Huntington (April 18, 1927 – December 24, 2008) published his thesis “The Clash of Civilizations” in 1996, offered a different perspective of the post Cold-War new world order, which predicted to be also full of conflicts and no less of wars, immediately sparked a mass discussion worldwide among intellectuals.  In general, his viewpoints unfortunately proved to be true. 

So does the supposedly dismantled Big Brother machinery. With the advancement of Information Technology, the monitoring system is evolved into a far more superior and effective than the once based on Thought Polices and espionage techniques to pry on ones’ privacy. And this time, it no longer confined to Iron-Curtain countries.

My explanation would be no match to Hollywood movies. In short, if the technologically equipped government has such an intention, they can easily strip you bare.

Government Vs People

The argument is, who should be more transparent, the government or the people?  Besides, whose privacy should be protected, the government’s or the people’s? Technology didn’t take side and it stays neutral.  If a technology was in a good hand, it brings welfare; if it was in reverse, it creates warfare, and in a larger scale.

The elected government should be responsible to their people; they have to take care of their people’s interest, they should be more transparent for accountability. In contrast, privacy should be protected for normal people, whether or not their self-interest is harmful to the society but with the punishment awaited when they’re proved wrongdoing.

Wisdom: The Key of Solutions

Just like Biometric identification technology, if you have wisdom and clear mind, you can use it to protect privacy in access control. Besides, to use it to achieve undisputable trails in time and attendance is also to promote accountability and honesty. You can’t stop the technology advancement, but you can use it in a good way.

With wisdom, privacy is not always confronted with the transparency, they can go in pair to benefit the human race. 

by Teh Hon Seng, CEO, FingerTec HQ

Works like that

One day I noticed that a technical staff was taking unusual extra days and emails to resolve a problem. I sent him the following little reminder to insinuate my dissatisfaction. 

Customer:  How to solve problem A?

FingerTec: Problem A has A(1) and A(2), which one do you mean? 

(One day has gone.)

Customer: Sorry, it is supposed to be A(2). 

FingerTec: Okay. But A(2) has three options, A(2a), A(2b) and A(2c), which one do you refer to?

(Another day has passed.)

Customer (impatient): My problem is A(2b). Please hurry up, it's urgent!

FingerTec: Okay, it’s simple. You just need to turn the reader off and to restart it all over again. Have a nice day! :-)

Customer: #S*&#@$^@!*%....

Just like FingerTec slogan, one finger solves it all, the challenge for our technical supports should be one email solve it all! A good support should have an analytical mind to see a problem inside out, and to provide full solutions in a single email.   

by Teh Hon Seng, CEO, FingerTec HQ

Undisputed Trails

"You can’t exist in this world without leaving a piece of yourself behind. There are concrete paths, like credit card receipts and appointment calendars and promises you’ve made to others. There are microscopic clues, like fingerprints, that stay invisible unless you know how to look for them. But even in the absence of any of this, there’s scent. We live in a cloud that moves with us as we check e-mail and jog and carpool. The whole time, we shed skin cells – forty thousand per minute – that rise on currents up our legs and under our chins.”

The above quote is the very first paragraph to start Jodi Picoult’s novel entitled Vanishing Acts. There is a Chinese proverb which carries the same meaning, “凡走过必定留痕”(Wherever you go, you would leave some trails).

Disputed trails

But, trails can be counterfeited which make them disputable sometimes, when authentication is based on a medium like a card or a key.

Undisputed trails

Undisputed trails. The Biometrics products try to lament. It’s good to improve security, but some say, it’s terrifying too, because when authentication needs a body part, an eyeball of a scientist might be jabbed out by a villain who wants to gain access into a control room; a familiar scene in an action or a sci-fi movie.

But for time and attendance purpose, it’s certainly exaggerated. Who would want to chop off a finger to prove he or she was not late for work?  For the deployment of biometrics in an access control system in office environment, the frightful scenario also is very unlikely to happen.  Despite of that, most of the fingerprint vendors have to deal with these preposterous questions thrown at them every now and then. Yes, these questions were from those skeptical people who are too obsessed with Hollywood movies. 

Some people are against the idea of Biometrics authentication implementation in commercial level, arguing that it violates privacy. The misconception is due to fear that their fingerprint could be reproduced to construct the undisputed trail for other usage, which might get them into big trouble. 

The pamphlet of FingerTes addresses the use of minutiae points 

But if minutiae points are taken instead of the fingerprint image, there is no way to reproduce a fingerprint for other purposes. In fact, when it comes to access control system, biometrics still is the best solution to prevent any intrusion of your privacy.

I quoted some literacy phrases to combine sense and sensibility to soften this topic, but my writing style landed me with more sense than sensibility. :-(  My writings reveal my character; it’s an undisputed trail from biometrics, too!

by Teh Hon Seng, CEO, FingerTec HQ