Government’s strategic environmental assessment push a tool for sustainable development, not a ‘magic pill’
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023
Farida Waller
The Thai government is pushing the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as an essential tool to prepare and measure sustainable development plans throughout the country.
The SEA will include environmental concerns in policies, plans, and programmes and evaluate how they connect with economic and social concerns.
It is expected to help current and future generations in economic, social, and environmental aspects.
Strategic decision-making should be more open and clearer in general in the hope that the public will trust the planners and decision-makers, experts say.
“It helps in seeing the root of the problems, not just the impact,” said Wites Srinate, consultant at United Analyst and Engineering Consultant Co Ltd.
The office of the National Economic and Social Development Council and Khon Kaen University held a seminar on “Lessons from SEA-based sustainable development” at Pathumwan Princess Hotel, Bangkok on January 24.
The seminar focused on exchanging experiences and challenges in various aspects implementing SEA to achieve sustainability in different departments, and also to enhance knowledge and correct understanding of the SEA.
“To achieve sustainable development, we must consider whether people in the future would be able to use all the natural resources as we do today,” explained Sunee Mallikamarl, an environmental law expert.
Three national parks in Thailand are considered as World Heritage areas, Sunee Saksua, director of the Foreign Affairs Division Department of National Parks Wild Animals and Plants, said.
“Currently, 22% of Thailand’s forests are national forests. We plan to increase their area to 25%,” said Sunee Saksua.
“The most difficult part of implementing the SEA is the challenge of communication, media creation, building confidence and participation across sectors and stakeholders,” Wites said.
Thongchai Panswad, head representative of the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and the Environmental Engineering Society of Thailand, cautioned that “The SEA is not a magic solution.”
Timing is important to be fully aware and prepared before forming a new law on the SEA he added.
“I don’t agree with having an SEA manual, what we need instead are guidelines to promote flexibility,” said Thongchai.
“The ecosystem is the centre, not humans. Humans created the SEA to develop the environment. Thailand is part of the environment, therefore implementing the SEA will aid in developing the ecosystem and the country,” Sunee Mallikamarl argued.
Another seminar will take place soon for stakeholders to exchange ideas and design a manual for SEA to be practically used once it becomes a law in Thailand.
Winner of CEO Thailand Award 2023, Shubhodeep Das, shines the light on leadership in the private sector in Chiang Mai
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023
Mr Shubhodeep Das, the founder and group CEO of Hylife Group, won the CEO Thailand Award in 2023, which led Hylife Group to become the business leader in Chiang Mai’s private sector in sectors such as real estate, mortgages, debt rehabilitation, food processing, and medical supplies.
The event held on January 29, 2023, at the Amari Don Mueang Airport Hotel, was arranged by the Broadcaster and Journalist’s Assembly of Thailand (BJ.AT) to provide awards for the best CEO in Thailand.
Mr Shubhodeep Das led the Hylife Group, which was founded during the COVID-19 outbreak, to overcome the crisis. Initially, Hylife Group was successfully established in medical mask production, land purchase, mortgages, and condominium sales while other businesses were developed, such as food processing and debt rehabilitation.
During the COVID outbreak, the impact of the employment reduction has impacted all areas of Thailand. Mr. Shubhodeep Das and the management team have assembled a team with strong potential to develop products and services in areas where the COVID-19 outbreak had a smaller impact, like Chiang Mai. The Hylife Group businesses have helped in income distribution during these hard times and helped drive the economy by proving jobs. Even though it went against the trend back then, it was better than doing nothing since COVID-19 caused a tourist city like Chiang Mai to stagnate. Surprisingly, the company’s condominium project has received more positive responses than expected because teams with high potential and experience from various places joined the company and drove it to success and the condominium project sold out in less than a year. This has been considered to have a massive impact on new Chiang Mai entrepreneurs. It is believed that Chiang Mai’s economy will recover after reopening the country. People have adjusted to living with COVID-19; thus, the company is preparing to develop additional projects to support new business opportunities that will arise.
There are now eight companies in the Hylife Group with registered capital totaling more than 471 million Thai baht: Hylife Asset Co., Ltd., Hylife Developments Co., Ltd., Hylife Property Development Co., Ltd., Dr. Hygiene Medical Products Co., Ltd., Pinnacle Asset Management, HA Construction Co., Ltd., Hylife IBC Co., Ltd., and Hylife Global Foods Co., Ltd. The last two businesses recently received investment promotions from The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI), which motivates Hylife Group to strive and always prepare to move forward to strengthen and sustainably grow the Thai economy.
Thailand Businesses Lead the World in Business Health
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023
Thailand’s business health in the second half of 2022 improved by 3.8 percentage points over H1 2022, with the index reaching 8.8 – marking the highest point in five years and exceeding regional and global averages for the first time since 2017, according to a report by Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR)
In contrast, Asean business leaders are more cautious, while Asia Pacific and Global business leaders remain bearish.
Ian Pascoe, CEO and Managing Partner at Grant Thornton in Thailand, said, “Business leaders are better prepared after having gone through 3 years of unprecedented economic turbulence as Thailand emerges from the pandemic. Our business survey indicates Thai businesses share a positive sentiment in their outlook for 2023 and are more positive about the effects of the external factors on their business.”
The business health was determined by combining the overall economic outlook with the sentiment on restrictions.
The three major economic outlook indicators of general economic optimism, business conditions and investment intentions declined by 2.1 percentage points, 0.5pp, and 3.4pp respectively, in the second half of 2022.
Improving sentiment on restrictions has significantly bolstered Thailand’s business health index. Business concern over demand constraints dropped by 9.6 percentage points from H1 2022, while worries over supply constraints fell by 7.4pp.
Despite ongoing challenges of inflation, high energy prices, and cultural phenomena such as the Great Resignation, businesses in Thailand remains more positive in their outlook as compared to the past 5 years, indicating that businesses have adapted and built resilience into their operations in preparation for 2023.
The Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) is the world’s leading survey which provides vital insight into the health of the global mid-market. These results for H2 2022 reflect the views of nearly 5,000 mid-market companies across 30+ countries interviewed in November and December of this year. In Thailand, there were 102 respondents from companies with a headcount between 50-500.
In Thailand only 49% of survey respondents across the region listed economic uncertainty as a major constraint, an improvement of 18pp from the second half of 2021.
Businesses remain cautious when it comes to fiscal expenditures and investments. Just 36% of Thailand’s mid-market companies indicated that they would increase their headcount in 2023. The availability of skilled personnel is certainly not a limiting factor, at least currently. Only 26% of respondents in Thailand said talent scarcity was a significant issue, compared to 37% of respondents in Asean and 57% globally.
Despite encouraging signs of recovery, companies across Thailand are planning only modest investments in information technology (49%; down 12pp from H1 2022), plant and machinery (39%; down 5pp from H1 2022), and personnel (36%, as mentioned above; down 12pp from H1 2022).
Tanva Mahitivanichcha, Partner at Grant Thornton, commented, “these results indicate that business leaders in Thailand are planning to invest cautiously, at least in the near term.
The challenges of inflation, energy prices, and interest rates remain. However, economic uncertainty dropping by 12pp since the first half of 2022 and nearly 20pp compared to the second half of 2022 indicates the nation’s resilience and ability to adapt to the post-covid environment. As Thailand continues to re-open its tourism sector, business health will continue trending upwards.”
Siam Commercial Bank names Pornpat Ongnithiwat new CFO
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023
Effective February 1, 2023, SCB will be appointing Pornpat Ongnithiwat as First Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer.
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) aspires to be the main pillar of the SCBX Financial Group, focusing on delivering superior returns with rigorous risk control, appropriate management of operating costs, and winning the hearts of every customer segment. The Bank’s strategies and business plans are ready for fast-changing consumer behaviour in the digital age.
Pornpat will be a driving force in the Bank’s efforts to attain this objective efficiently. The new CFO will play a significant role in co-developing the Bank’s strategic plan and business direction, developing financial strategies, conducting assessment and management of financial indicators, and advising the management team and Board of Directors on the Bank’s finance and accounting matters.
In addition to her knowledge and expertise in finance and investments, Pornpat has been recognized as an expert in a variety of areas, such as strategic and business process development, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, risk management, business and competition analysis, and more.
She has experience as a leader in preparing strategic plans and action plans for the Pruksa Holding Group, covering real estate plans, health care business, investment, and analyzing and forecasting earnings, as well as making recommendations and adjusting strategic alignment within the group to achieve its objectives.
Prior to joining SCB, Pornpat served as Deputy Group Chief Financial Officer at Pruksa Holding Public Company Limited and Group Chief Financial Officer at Pruksa Real Estate Public Company Limited and held several financial and investment management positions at PepsiCo Group companies, such as PepsiCo Asia in Hong Kong and Suntory PepsiCo in Vietnam. Additionally, she has worked with P&G and KPMG.
Pornpat earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Banking from the Faculty of Business Administration at Assumption University and a Master’s degree in Marketing (International Program) from Thammasat University.
She was also enrolled in the Master of Science in Business Administration program at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.
AIA Thailand Launches Premium ‘AIA East Gateway’ Building in Bangna
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023
Bangkok – January 25, 2023 – AIA Thailand today launched a premium office and retail building, AIA East Gateway. Strategically located on Bangna-Trat Road KM4.5, AIA East Gateway is AIA Thailand’s third commercial development, following the success of AIA Capital Center and AIA Sathorn Tower.
The opening, coinciding with AIA Thailand’s 85th anniversary, was presided over by Mr Krisada Chinavichara, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Chairman of the Board of Office of Insurance Commission, in the presence of Dr Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn, the Secretary-General of the Office of Insurance Commission, Dr Edmund Tse, AIA Group Independent Non-executive Chairman and Independent Non-executive Director, Mr Nikhil Advani, Chief Executive Officer, AIA Thailand, and over 100 guests representing AIA executives and business partners.
AIA East Gateway has been designed to serve a new generation of tenants looking for modern, and sustainable design, with state-of-the-art lifestyle amenities that offer “A Harmony of Work, Wellbeing and Sustainability”. The premium green office building reflects AIA’s commitment to become an ESG leader in Thailand and Asia.
This new location in the Bangna-Trat area comes after two previous developments, AIA Capital Center on Ratchadapisek Road and AIA Sathorn Tower, opened in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Both pre-existing buildings have received local and international awards and have maintained an occupancy rate of over 90 per cent. AIA now has total lettable space area of 167,000 sq.m. across the three buildings, all of which are situated in strategic business areas.
During his inaugural address, Mr Krisada Chinavichara, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Chairman of the Board of Office of Insurance Commission, congratulated and praised AIA Thailand for its vision and foresight for this significant landmark in the Bangna-Trat area. “AIA East Gateway is an exciting addition to the district’s infrastructure landscape. “Its desirable location will attract both local and international companies seeking to develop their business in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). As one of Bangkok’s fastest-rising commercial zones, it is perfectly positioned to provide access for its tenants to new opportunities and to participate in Thailand’s sustainable economic development.”
Mr Nikhil Advani, Chief Executive Officer, AIA Thailand, highlighted the advantages and premium features of AIA’s new office property. “This project has a lot to offer to both SMEs and large corporations, thanks to its prime location and easy access, environmental-friendly design and unmatched facilities. We have no doubt that this building will soon become a major player in the business development and commercial hub of the EEC. This project reinforces our confidence and commitment to drive the Thai economy. It is another step forward in our real estate investment plans to boost district economies and showcase the best in sustainable development. Having protected millions of families across Thailand and Asia, investing in real estate is another way to facilitate better lives for the community, drive the local economy and contribute to the country’s sustainable development.”
AIA Thailand’s office buildings enjoy high recognition from professionals in the real estate industry. In 2020, AIA East Gateway received two Thailand Property Awards for ‘Best Office Landscape’ and ‘Best Office Architectural Design’. It is a 33-storey Grade A building with office and retail areas of approximately 60,000 sq.m. and 10,000 sq.m., respectively. It has been designed according to international LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and WELL standards at the Gold level. From the 6th to the 33rd floors, large office floor plates offer column-free layouts and surface areas ranging from 1,900 to 2,200 sq.m., with a ceiling height of three meters. The size of office units ranges from 85 sq.m., up to 2,200 sq.m for an entire floor.
The building offers various well-being facilities such as a fitness center, a saltwater swimming pool and an “AIA Vitality Zone” equipped with an open-air working space, a 400-meter running track and an urban farming zone. A sophisticated security system with CCTV and facial recognition turnstile, plus 18 destination-control passenger lifts provide easy and safe access for all tenants and visitors. The car park accommodates 1,250 car spaces, some with EV chargers.
AIA East Gateway enjoys proximity to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Mega Bangna, Central Bangna, BITEC, residential projects, and allows quick access to and from Bangkok and key arterial roads. Already accessible through the BTS Green Line (Lat Prao – Samrong) and, in the future, through the MRT Yellow Line (Samrong – Suan Luang Ro 9), AIA East Gateway is located approximately 350 meters from MRT Si lam station.
For more information, please visit our website www.aiaeastgateway.com or contact our Sales office for further inquiries about office and retail space by phone: 02-119-1500, Monday-Friday, from 08.30 – 17.00 hours.
What comes to mind if you are planning to visit Thailand? Beautiful sea views, island hopping, or Tom Yum soup? Why not leave those ideas behind and try something fresh, such as an inland tour to discover a different Thailand?
In the South Thailand province of Surat Thani, you will experience another side of Thailand. Granted the name from King Rama IV, Surat Thani means “city of the good people”. Most Chinese tourists are fascinated by the province’s islands, such as Koh Samui and Koh Tao.
Few have explored Thailand’s amazing inland, which includes one of the oldest evergreen rainforests in the world – Khao Sok National Park – or the magnificent Buddhist temples in the Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park, and boat trips along the rivers
For most travellers who arrive in Surat Thani by plane, the nearest site to explore will be the provincial centre. Located close to the sea, the provincial centre has countless small rivers connecting residences to the east Thailand Bay.
Taking a boat along the river, you can witness fishermen’s lives in the Bang Bai Mai community. Also known as “Nai Bang”, the community still lives in a simple way. In this area, hundreds of small canals flow into the Tapi river, which finally meets the ocean.
On a small wooden boat, you can see the mangrove nipa palm trees and coconut trees lined up on both sides of the canal. For animal lovers, the trip will provide a chance to closely observe local birds and water lizards.
“Nipa palm trees are important to us. The leaves can be used for wrapping sweets or making brooms. It can be also processed to make desserts,” a boatman told us.
Every Sunday, the sightseeing boat can also take you to Bang Bai Mai Market – an old floating market in Surat Thani known for a wide selection of local dishes and Thai snacks such as Toddy Palm Cake, Black Coconut Sweet Pudding, and Mango Sticky Rice.
The market is surrounded by greenery and a canal, which makes it stand out from other markets in the city. While the market offers plenty of food stalls, it’s a good choice to try the deep-fried banana blossom and the Thai curry puff, each priced at about 30 Bhat ($0.89).
After exploring the market, visitors can drop by a nearby coffee shop with outdoor seating next to the canal. A local cafe named Korjak sitting at the riverbank is one of the most popular choices with a forestlike atmosphere due to its lush surroundings.
As some travellers may be interested in local coconut products, Suan Lung Song is on the recommended list. It is a knowledge centre where people can learn every aspect of coconut farming. They can also experience making cold-pressed coconut oil and soap.
Tourists kayak up the stream in Ban Nam Rat Watershed Forest where they can explore lagoons and admire the lush jungle. (YANG WANLI / CHINA DAILY)
National Park
Surrounded by one of the oldest evergreen rainforests in the world, Khao Sok National Park will impress you with its huge limestone mountains, deep valleys, breathtaking lakes, exciting caves and wild animals.
Together with adjacent wildlife sanctuaries in Khlong Saeng, Khlong Yan and Khlong Naka, the combined area of the park is more than 3,500 square kilometres, making up an area more than half the size of Bali.
In the park, tourists can choose different ways to explore, such as personal elephant encounters, jungle trekking or canoeing. One of the most interesting areas is the beautiful Cheow Larn Lake in the heart of the national park, complete with floating raft houses and luxury tents.
On a limited budget, visitors have options to live in those small but cosy hotels or family stays at an acceptable price. It is convenient to book a tuk-tuk, the local motorcycle taxi, at the hotel to visit Cheow Larn Lake.
Among the Thai people, Cheow Larn Lake is famous for its landmark: three limestone peaks nicknamed mini Guilin. Guilin refers to the city in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, which is known for its karst landforms and limestone peaks.
For travellers who are willing to explore wildlife, Khao Sok is unmissable.
Thailand boasts some of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, and Khao Sok is one of them. Thanks to it being relatively unchanged over millions of years, Khao Sok has become a haven for a variety of birds, insects, reptiles and mammals.
According to the Khao Sok National Park’s official website, the park is home to 311 species of birds, 48 species of mammals, more than 30 species of bats, countless insects and reptiles, endangered tigers and an estimated 200 wild Asian elephants.
Moreover, there are around 200 species of plants per hectare in Khao Sok, with a combination of ginormous trees, trailing vines and exotic flowers. Some plants are unique to the rainforest. For example, the largest flower on Earth, rafflesia, can grow up to 90 centimetres in width.
The Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park consists a total of six pagodas in different shapes and colors from brick red to white and gold. (YANG WANLI / CHINA DAILY)
Jungle exploration
Nearby the Khao Sok National Park, there are two sites with jungle experiences. About 40 minutes by car from the Cheow Larn Lake, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park, especially in the early morning or evening with sunlight passing through the park’s front arch.
The Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park consists of a total of six pagodas in different shapes and colours from brick red to white and gold. The most impressive one to me is what local people called the “floating pagoda” with a small pond underneath it.
Both the pond and the pagoda are built on the top of a small mountain. Lotus and small fishes give the pond a sense of Zen. Religious text is written carefully in gold powder on the red bricks. Standing on the pagoda, an overhead view of the forest is an unforgettable moment.
After the soul baptism in the park, Ban Nam Rat Watershed Forest, which only takes 30 minutes by car, is a destination not to be missed. It offers crystal-clear waters of a flooded forest, consisting of a lake, various jungle canals and stunning lagoons.
“In the past, the forest used to be a small freshwater canal that looked like a peat swamp forest. This magical place, referred to as Khlong Rood by the locals, is a hidden gem and a true highlight of the region,” an officer from the forest ticket office said.
Limestone peaks stick out of the water in Cheow Larn Lake, which sits in the heart of Khao Sok National Park. (YANG WANLI / CHINA DAILY)
The lake itself mirrors the various tree stumps and rocks that stick out of the surface, creating the illusion of no horizon. In the forest, visitors will see many species of plants, including water lilies, orchids and tropical pitcher plants.
You can kayak up the stream and explore breathtaking lagoons, surrounded by lush jungle greenery. You can have a fantastic end to the day by parking your kayak and taking a dip in the crystal-blue waters of the jungle among colourful fish.
Messi on kissing the World Cup trophy and his regrets at his behaviour against Dutch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023
THE NATION
Argentina captain Lionel Messi said he has “achieved everything” in his career, during an interview to Urbana Play 104.3 FM Radio, his first since winning the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The interview was recorded last Friday, 27th January, but went on-air this Monday.
(Messi On what it meant to him to have won the World Cup)
“I achieved everything with the national team, as I always dreamed of. I achieved everything in my career, at Barcelona, on a personal level too. (Winning the World Cup) was closing my career in a unique way. When I started with all this, I never imagined that it would be this way, that all this would happen to me and I think that reaching that moment was the best.”
The 35-year-old footballer who finally became world champion in his fifth participation, also referred to the iconic moment when he kissed the trophy.
(Messi On the moment he kissed the World Cup trophy during the ceremony)
“(I felt the World Cup trophy was saying) ‘It’s over, it’s over, come and grab me, now you can touch me.’ Did you see that they say you cannot touch it, or look at it, anything? That’s it, I was finally able to do all that. And apart from that, I saw that the trophy was shining, that it was sparkling in that beautiful stadium and I didn’t think about it, I didn’t think about it. And I went to kiss it, because I passed by.”
He also said he is sorry for the crosses he had with coach Louis Van Gaal and the Dutch players during the World Cup match.
La Albiceleste beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw at 2022 World Cup Quarterfinals.
(On Messi dedicating a goal to Louis Van Gaal during match and when he said”What are you looking at, silly? Go over there” to Wout Werghorst)
Messi: “Obviously I don’t like what I did, I don’t like what happened next,”
Journalist: “The “Andá pa’ allá” (Go over there)
Messi: “The “Andá pa’ allá” and all that. But hey, these are moments of great tension, a lot of nervousness and everything happens very quickly. You don’t have time to think about anything and you react the way you can. But in reality, nothing was planned, it happened like that. I don’t like to leave that image, but these are things that happen too.”
The game was marked by several controversies.
Van Gaal provoked his South American rivals by stating that if there was a penalty shootout his players were better prepared.
He also recalled that “Messi did not touch the ball” in the 2014 World Cup semifinal, which Argentina won via penalties.
Thailand comes up with non-communicable disease prevention
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023
THE NATION
Physical activity has been emphasised by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) as a mean to tackle noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
In collaboration with its partners, such as the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK), and Mahidol University, ThaiHealth organised the Thailand Physical Activity Conference 2022 (TPAC2022), which took place at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on Monday (January 30).
TPAC 2022 aims to promote the “Integrating knowledge for physical activity regeneration” campaign, said Advisor to ThaiHealth Dr Udomsil Srisaengnam.
“ThaiHealth, now in its twentieth-second year, has been working to promote wellbeing of Thai society on all fronts: physical, mental, social, and intellectual,” he said.
Dr Prasit Watanapa, Advisor to the Faculty of Medicine at Mahidol University’s Siriraj Hospital, advised people to monitor their body mass index (BMI), avoid unhealthy foods and beverages, engage in regular exercise, drink more water (3.7 litres for men and 2.7 litres for women), get enough sleep, and use technology to develop healthy habits.
According to statistics, around 24.7% of people in the working age range (30-69) have NCDs, which causes premature death, resulting in around 139 billion in government expenses, said Udom Asawutmangkul, Director of the Division of Physical Activity and Health.
“Physical activities are the key to enhancing good health and preventing the NCDs diseases. ThaiHealth is pushing a national plan that aims to promote physical activities in the country” Udom added.
Why Chonburi’s Sasom declined to shake hands with Buriram’s Japanese coach
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023
Chonburi FC coach Sasom Pobprasert has denied snubbing Buriram United’s Japanese coach on Sunday, explaining that they did not know each other.
Sasom’s clarification came after he reportedly declined to shake hands with Buriram coach Masatada Ishii before the start of the Hilux Revo Thai League 2022/23 match between the two teams on Sunday.
Speaking to the press after his team’s 0-2 defeat, Sasom said that he did not know Ishii personally, and added that he did not regret losing to Buriram United.
A video of Sasom’s apparent snub went viral among netizens. The video shows him avoiding the Japanese coach twice. Sasom had also declined to shake hands with the Japanese coach at Chonburi Stadium on August 27 when the home team lost 2-3 to Buriram United.
“Masatada Ishii is just a football coach, not a friend,” he replied in response to queries from the press.
At Chang Arena Stadium in Buri Ram province on Sunday, Buriram United beat Chonburi FC 2-0, following strikes by Supachai Jaided in the 42nd minute and Goran Čaušić in the 63rd minute.
Seven tips on mitigating cyber risks to your corporate social media in 2023
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023
Threats to corporate social media are evolving along with perpetrators’ social engineering skills at a blistering pace.
Sometimes their techniques reach such a high level that even the tech-savvy administrator of a corporate network can’t tell the difference between a scam and the truth.
As many businesses use social media to promote their products and services, these threats are relevant to an extremely large number of companies.
To help them stay safe, Kaspersky experts, Anna Larkina, Web content analysis expert and Roman Dedenok, Spam Analysis Expert, are offering the following advice to mitigate the cyber risks associated with social media in 2023.
Use caution with direct messages and drafts folder, delete old irrelevant information
Companies should be careful about keeping sensitive information in direct messages – it can pose cyber risks. People often use corporate social media to write directly to brands, asking for help, using the account holder’s product or service.
Also, some partnerships, such as those with bloggers, can be negotiated in direct messages. Sometimes personal or financial information is shared during these conversations, which could remain in the messages folder long after the interaction.
If there is a breach allowing cyber criminals to gain unauthorized access to the account, sensitive data may be leaked or used to organize an attack.
To avoid this risk, make it a useful habit to delete irrelevant messages when the dialog is finished and the information it contains is no longer relevant. The same applies to posts – It is worth carefully reviewing what is saved in the drafts folder from time to time.
Review old posts to minimize reputational risks
The power of reputation is growing: every word, action, and decision can either help or harm the company’s image. Everything published online is of great importance in terms of cyber security as well: when sensitive information (re)appears in public, it almost always ends up hurting a company’s reputation and could incur financial losses.
To be on the safe side, spend some time reviewing already published posts, as they might contain information that doesn’t fit into the current reality – that might be anything from inappropriate jokes to controversial advertising campaigns.
What was normal yesterday, can cause a negative public reaction today. A review of publications made over the past few years largely reduces related reputational risks.
Be careful posting your success stories
Having signed a lucrative contract or reached a deal, we want to post it on social to tell as many people as possible about our success.
But we really need to be aware of unwanted cybercriminals’ attention. If a potential attacker knows who your suppliers or contractors are, they could try to conduct an attack impersonating them or breaching their accounts and acting on their behalf.
Moreover, the clearer you reflect your company’s structure and working methods on social media, the easier it is for perpetrators to organize an attack.
For example, if it is possible to trace who is responsible for finance, an attacker can pretend to be this person’s supervisor and try to lure them into urgently transferring a large sum of money to a fake account to “close a deal” or “purchase necessary equipment”.
Exercising various social engineering techniques, a perpetrator can convincingly impersonate another person, and a victim would hardly notice the fraud.
Warn newcomers about risks associated with “new job” posts on social media
After getting a new job, newcomers usually share the news on social, but they do not yet understand how cybersecurity processes are built in this company: for example, how identification works or with whom they can share sensitive information. Therefore, a newcomer is more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Imagine: a perpetrator tracks this person in social media and collects information about them. Then the criminal writes the new employee a malicious letter on behalf of the company’s IT administrator asking to share the password to set up a technical account.
It is highly likely that a newcomer will share the password because they do not know that the administrators would never write such a letter. Moreover, new employees are usually shy, and they might hesitate to ask their colleagues if the letter is authentic.
A tiny little post on social media might turn the employee into an entry point for cybercriminals.
To mitigate the risk, offer newcomers a course on information security immediately, and tell them to be extremely careful when posting about a new job.
Control account access (and don’t forget to change the password when an employee leaves)
Logins, passwords, and access to the email address are used to create a social media account are just as valuable as other internal corporate documents. If an employee who has access to accounts and authentication data leaves the company, it is useful to apply the same rules as when blocking their access to the corporate network.
To begin with, change the password for the e-mail account linked to the corporate social network; then unlink the ex-employee’s mobile phone number and check other authentication methods – for example, a spare mailbox.
Do not ignore two-factor authentication
Any account on a social network, not to mention a corporate one, must be securely protected. Two-factor authentication is an absolutely necessary setting for any type of account.
The email address linked to the account should be as protected as the social media account itself. Often the attack begins with an initial access to e-mail. After breaching an account, an attacker can configure filters in the mailbox settings to delete all support emails from the social network.
Therefore, a user will not be able to restore access to their account, because all emails will be deleted automatically. Not to mention that in a stressful situation we won’t be checking which filters are currently configured in our mailbox.
It is best to register a social media account using a corporate e-mail address. To begin with, it is better protected (assuming the company cares about cybersecurity). Furthermore, in-house security specialists can block access to this mailbox along with all access to the corporate network.
Provide your employees with anti-phishing training
To mitigate cyber risks in social media networks, it is not enough to protect your company’s account technically, it is equally important to conduct special training for employees on information security, various types of phishing, and other threats.
According to user statistics on the Kaspersky Gamified Assessment Tool, designed to educate workers and to assist managers in measuring their cyber skills, just 11% of nearly 4000 employees demonstrated a high level of cybersecurity awareness in 2022, while 28% could not prove sufficient cybersecurity proficiency.
Attackers use sophisticated methods of social engineering. Even the most advanced representatives of Gen Z can succumb to them. The human factor cannot be reduced to zero, but it can be minimized as much as possible with the help of dedicated training.
Tourists kayak up the stream in Ban Nam Rat Watershed Forest where they can explore lagoons and admire the lush jungle. (YANG WANLI / CHINA DAILY)
The Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park consists a total of six pagodas in different shapes and colors from brick red to white and gold. (YANG WANLI / CHINA DAILY)
Limestone peaks stick out of the water in Cheow Larn Lake, which sits in the heart of Khao Sok National Park. (YANG WANLI / CHINA DAILY)
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