The company had originally said up to 50 million accounts were affected in a cyberattack that exploited a trio of software flaws to steal “access tokens” that enable people to automatically log back onto the platform.

“We now know that fewer people were impacted than we originally thought,” Facebook vice president of product management Guy Rosen said in a conference call updating the investigation.

The hackers — whose identities are still a mystery — accessed the names, phone numbers and email addresses of 15 million users, he said.

For another 14 million people, the attack was potentially more damaging.

Facebook said cyberattackers accessed that data plus additional information including gender, religion, hometown, birth date and places they had recently “checked in” to as visiting.

No data was accessed in the accounts of the remaining one million people whose “access tokens” were stolen, according to Rosen.

The attack did not affect Facebook-owned Messenger, Messenger Kids, Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, Workplace, Pages, payments, third-party apps or advertising or developer accounts, the company said.

– ‘Vulnerability’ in the code –

Facebook said engineers discovered a breach on September 25 and had it patched two days later.

That breach allegedly related to a “view as” feature — described as a privacy tool to let users see how their profiles look to other people. That function has been disabled for the time being as a precaution.

Facebook reset the 50 million accounts believed to have been affected, meaning users would need to sign back in using passwords.

The breach was the latest privacy embarrassment for Facebook, which earlier this year acknowledged that tens of millions of users had their personal data hijacked by Cambridge Analytica, a political firm working for Donald Trump in 2016.

“We face constant attacks from people who want to take over accounts or steal information around the world,” chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said on his own Facebook page when the breach was disclosed.

“While I’m glad we found this, fixed the vulnerability, and secured the accounts that may be at risk, the reality is we need to continue developing new tools to prevent this from happening in the first place.”

Facebook said it took a precautionary step of resetting “access tokens” for another 40 million accounts which had accessed the “view as” function.

‘Seed’ accounts

Hackers evidently started the cyber-onslaught on September 14 with 400,000 “seed accounts” they had a hand in or were otherwise close to, according to Rosen.

“The attackers started with a set of accounts they controlled directly, then moved to their friends, and their friend’s friends, and so on — each time taking advantage of the vulnerability,” he added.

The exploit allowed hackers to steal copies of access tokens from accounts of “friends” by using the “view as” feature.

Once they had keys to accounts, hackers had the ability to get into them and control them as though they were the real owner.

Hackers could have seen the last four digits of credit card data in people’s accounts, with the rest hidden for security, but there was no sign that data was taken, according to Facebook.

Rosen said they found no reason yet to believe hackers were in interested in people’s information, rather that it appeared the mission was to harvest access tokens from friends associated with breached accounts.

He declined to discuss progress regarding figuring out who was behind the attack, saying Facebook had been asked by the FBI to remain quiet on the topic.

The California-based social network says it is cooperating with the FBI, US Federal Trade Commission, Irish Data Protection Commission and other authorities regarding the breach.

Rosen said the FBI investigation also limited what he could disclose about what the hackers’ end-goal may have been, but maintained that Facebook had “no reason to believe this attack was related to the mid-term elections” in the US.

Since markets are increasingly dominated by such IT giants, their strength within their respective markets has increased. As a result, there is concern that such companies might be conducting unfair trade practices with their business partners. The JFTC is considering conducting a compulsory investigation based on Article 40 of the Antimonopoly Law (see below).

Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.com — collectively called GAFA — are all platformers that are based in the United States.

IT giants operate online shopping sites or provide operating systems for smartphones or social networking services (SNS), among other things. As their services gain popularity for being convenient, their control of each field becomes increasingly oligopolistic.

Against a backdrop of overwhelming negotiating power, there has been a high amount of problematic behavior by these IT firms such as asking companies selling goods on their shopping websites to lower prices or demanding high usage fees.

For instance, regarding smartphones, it is said one IT giant restricts payment methods and charges the sky-high fee of about 30 percent of sales as a condition for selling items in its app store.

If the planned investigation takes place, the JFTC will obtain information from business partners of IT giants to verify whether these major companies are conducting unfair trade practices in Japan.

The JFTC will start with a voluntary investigation. However, companies trading with IT giants might be concerned about breach of contract and refuse to disclose the details of the transactions, hindering the investigation.

This is because IT giants often start off by locking clients into confidentiality agreements. Because of that, the JFTC is eying the possibility of conducting a compulsory investigation based on Article 40 of the Antimonopoly Law, which allows the JFTC to force firms to disclose the details of their transactions. Based on the results of the investigation, the JFTC aims to encourage IT giants to correct unfair trade practices.

Overseas, antimonopoly authorities have been strengthening monitoring efforts on acts of such companies based on their dominant positions, such as displaying their own services in eye-catching positions in search engines or collecting personal data without sufficiently obtaining the consent of users. The JFTC is also collecting information to use for the large-scale investigation.

■ Compulsory investigation based on Article 40 of the Antimonopoly Law

The investigation is conducted mainly on business partners of monopolistic or oligopolistic firms. If they refuse to respond to the investigation, they will be charged with a penalty of up to ¥200,000. On-site inspections, which are another compulsory investigation based on Article 47, are conducted mainly on individual companies suspected of violating laws and regulations. One of the advantages of the Article 40 investigation is that it allows a probe into a wide range of players in a relevant industry, including business partners of the companies in question. The JFTC launched an Article 40 investigation in 2016 for the first time in about 40 years. It concerned liquefied natural gas transactions.Speech

Without a doubt, digitalisation is shaping the future of healthcare, while bringing the major benefits to patients of more personalised and precise treatments.

According to Michael Reitermann, Siemens Healthineers AG managing board member and chief operation officer, artificial intelligence-based solutions are already turning the vast amount of available healthcare data into actionable insights.

“This digital revolution will shape our understanding, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and will change the very nature of healthcare towards more precise, personalised and affordable treatment,” said Reitermann.

These technologies will improve the overall patient experience, he says. From more complete patient records, to decision support tools to options in remote monitoring, digital enhancements will put patients in the position of a consumer. It will allow patients to feel ownership of their overall care, along with confidence in the quality of care they receive.

“At Siemens Healthineers, we have been incorporating AI and other machine learning in our technology for many years,” said Reitermann.

“We already have over 30 AI-enriched offerings on the market, and we continue to expand our pool of data and partnerships with customers to increase access to the data needed to further develop AI-based solutions.”

Digitalisation also helps reduce the cost of healthcare by automating recurring tasks and increasing efficiency and productivity, he adds. He points to examples: sample-tube characterisation and result interpretation in the lab, and AI-guided image interpretation in radiology. The main assets for the age of AI are data, information and knowledge, he says.

AI technology improves the overall patient experience. For example, AI has developed a 3D camera for computed tomography systems that position the patients in the isocentre to guarantee the best possible images at the lowest possible dose.

Other useful the data generated in the healthcare ecosystem include patient records, prescriptions, along with radiology and laboratory test results.

“We now also have consumer products and wearables that generate a vast amount of behavioural data.

“Such data on heart function, sleep cycles, physical activity, when combined with data from the ecosystem has the potential to give us leading indicators on the patient’s health and quality of life,” said Reitermann. This opens unimaginable opportunities for personalised high-quality medical care.

“We can reduce unwarranted variations through evidence-based care pathways,”  Reitermann said. “Instead of having to consider decisions from many individual doctors based on their own experiences, proven therapies based on a large amount of curated and successful cases – thanks to AI – can propose the best possible treatment. Via digitalisation we can also close care gaps, such as avoiding missed follow ups or making sure that the handover from one physician to the next physician or to a rehab facility is properly managed.”

He added that digitalisation also allows for the remote service monitoring of systems, avoiding unnecessary downtimes – and so improving efficiency and patient care.

“We are now also taking that data, via AI analytics, to actually predict possible system failures so that they can be addressed before they impact clinical operations,” said Reitermann.

Asean healthcare market

Healthcare has become a higher priority for many governments in the region, as evidenced by the harmonising and scaling down of regulatory requirements to raise transparency in the healthcare sector.

It is seeing positive results when it comes to international activities in different countries of the region.

Like other regions around the world, the Asean healthcare market is transitioning from procedure-based to outcome-oriented healthcare, and a stronger emphasis on digitalisation should result in more benefits for patients, Reitermann said.

“Asia Pacific is too diverse a region for a general response. Let’s focus on the Asean bloc, where we see good overall growth in the healthcare markets, fuelled by population growth and a growing middle class,” said Reitermann.

Role of robotic technology

Medicine can be made both more efficient and more precise through robotic technology, he says. It plays an important role along the entire healthcare continuum from diagnosis to treatment and aftercare.

“For example, two years ago, we launched a new angiography system utilising an industrial robot that performs scans up to 15 per cent faster, compared to a conventional system.

“The system also follows the patient on all table positions to provide the best possible imaging support for their treatment, giving a view of the body from virtually any angle. This kind of imaging system is crucial for the further development of minimally invasive surgery,” said Reitermann.

In addition, it has an x-ray system that utilises robotic arms that can be precisely positioned, enabling all areas of the body to be x-rayed in 3D while the patient is in a natural position, rather than forced into awkward poses to meet the limitations of a conventional x-ray system.

“And of course, there are surgical robots that can make difficult procedures easier for a broader physician base,” said Reitermann.

Data protection and patient privacy

He said that the highest priority for hospitals is to provide exceptional patient care without interruption.

It is crucial to be protected against cyberthreats, such as viruses or

ransomware, that may impair operations, compromise patient data, create

financial damage, or harm the overall reputation.

“When it comes to cybersecurity, our vigilance enables us to deliver systems that support efforts to shield the healthcare institution from threats while protecting the patient data. All equipment currently under development and some existing offerings have built-in security controls that can be adapted to support network requirements,” said Reitermann.

Guided by a central set of security requirements and product-specific threat and risk analyses, the company develops its equipment according to internationally accepted standards and procedures, he says.

“Our company-wide processes at Siemens Healthineers provide strict guidelines for mitigating risks posed by identified threats at any point, from equipment development to service provision.

“These guidelines are constantly adapted and updated. Furthermore, the FDA guidance for management of cybersecurity in medical devices has been embedded into our processes,” said Reitermann.

Tim Synan, head of Google Cloud, Southeast Asia, said the event was aimed at bringing the power of Google Cloud to Thai businesses of all sizes and helping them provide specialised solutions through different platforms and devices.

The summit highlighted the urgency for businesses to take on new challenges and move towards the cloud. “Cloud computing technology is about speed, agility, collaboration, awareness and transparency, with machine learning underpinning everything,” Synan said. “We have big plans for the future in the region.”

An enterprise technology business must be expert in networks, mobility, security, data management and low-cost, high-performance reliability at a global scale.

Google helped pioneer most of these fields, and brings all of them to bear in Google Cloud, Synan said.

“Google Cloud meets businesses wherever they are on their cloud journey, not simply taking them to the cloud, but blending their technologies with ours, and putting our own teams in the middle of their challenges and greatest opportunities,” he said.

“Listening to top Thai businesses, such as Ananda, Omise, and SCB Abacus, talk about how they have embraced the cloud and how it has helped them scale was inspiring and a sign of the future of the ecosystem in Thailand.”

Yong Chern Chet, chief innovation officer of Ananda Development PLC, said that Google Cloud helps Ananda differentiate its service experience from its competitors.

“Like our house property transfer app that is powered by Google Vision and Speech to Text API, it enables us to simplify our business processes and let us focus on what really matter for our customers,” Yong said.

“Within three months, we were able to save 130 hours of inspection time that amounted to more than Bt4 million.

“More importantly we be able to capture the insights and convert them to valuable information to help us enhance customers’ experiences. We are currently evaluating many future projects to extend our partnership with Google Cloud.”

Ezra Don Harinsut, chief operating officer and co-founder of Omise, said the company was able to scale the Payment API platform to handle 100 million transactions per day.

“We operate the transactions at the highest security with 99.99 per cent acceptance from financial institutions, with a 30 per cent cost saving when compared with other cloud providers and our platform complies with PCI DSS 3.2.1,” Don said.

“Thank you Google Cloud for the great technology platform and partnership.”

Anyarat Boonnithivorakul, chief operating officer of SCB Abacus, said that the company, as a dedicated advanced analytics spin-off, focuses on building human-centred AI technology.

“The Google Cloud platform has crucially enabled us to strengthen our core competency by facilitating agile ways of work, and providing accessible data analytics tools,” Anyarat said.

Whether you need a house to live in or for investment purposes, a home loan can usually be arranged from a bank of your choice.

The eligibility criteria differ from bank to bank. Here are the five most important factors that feed into determining home loan eligibility criteria from all banks in Thailand:

1. Income: This is the important factor for defining the maximum loan amount you can borrow. We can categorise this by two groups – those receiving a wage or salary and the self-employed. Whichever category the applicant falls into, a steady and regular source of income is a must to ensure they have the funds to pay back the banks every month.

Salary men/women. If you work for any government department or at any registered company, you belong to this group. Pay slips, bank statements and an employer reference letter are the documents almost all banks demand.

Self-employed. If you have your own company or business, or have other sources of income such as owning rental properties or holding shares, you belong to this category. If you have tax-related papers and bank statements to show, you can certainly apply for a home loan.

2. Rate of interest: Home finance eligibility is always inversely proportional to the rate of interest. If the interest rate is higher, eligibility will be lower – and vice-versa.

3. Outstanding loans: Thai banks always recommend keeping your debt-to-income ratio between 50 or 80 per cent. This is to leave a window for future loans or to pay off any existing loans. Unsettled loans could be a great limitation on your eligibility.

4 Loan term: If you choose a longer tenure, your eligibility will increase. But the downside to this is that you will end up paying more interest.

The maximum loan term of most banks in Thailand is 30 years. Age is a factor that could impact the loan term, as the repayments have to be completed before the age of 60 or 65.

5. NCB report: Banks also examine your credit repayment history from NCB (National Credit Bureau), the country’s regulator and first credit information bureau. A negative record can bring down your eligibility significantly.

Smoother process

Applying for a mortgage doesn’t happen overnight, and you can make the mortgage application process a whole lot smoother when you prepare well in advance of application time. Our advice is to not quit your job, make sure you clean up your credit report, pay down your outstanding debt, begin saving. You are now good to go.

With technology leading the way in everything in our daily lives, online information gathering and applications for home loans are gaining momentum. Online application is a timesaving and convenient way to apply for loans and is becoming the preferred choice for many borrowers.

A one-stop home-loan application service platform such as somjai.co is the latest and easiest way. Homebuyers no longer need to walk into a bank branch to find out what offers are available, collect information online and offline, compare to find the best rate, calculate eligibility, submit the required documents and follow up on applications.

An online service, such as the Somjai Home Loan, may offer the easiest way to go online and compare various home loan offers in the market and make a list of banks most suitable for your needs. This can save a lot of time and effort.

The home-loan expert team will always be there

to provide special consultation service and ensure

you get the best deal in the market at the best experience.

The Somjai team also provides a home loan service for foreigners interested in purchasing condominium units in Thailand. Our English-speaking staff are ready to provide prompt service and make recommendations.

Netita Taechathasiri is co-founder and CEO of Somjai Home Loan, a startup in dtac accelerate batch 6.

According to a press release from ABB in Thailand, the growing adoption of robots in all walks of manufacturing is creating increased demand for workers with skills in programming and operating robots, and many new career paths.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was signed by Sirichote Singsa, vice president of ABB in Thailand and Associate Professor Dr. Komsan Maleesee, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, KMITL.

“I’m pleased to see this MoU in place to create synergy between KMITL and ABB; cooperation in educational resources development as well as transfer of knowledge and technology in development of the industrial robots in various industries. This is in line with the Thailand 4.0 policy that is targeting innovation as a means of development,” Sirichote said.

Associate Professor Dr. Komsan Maleesee added: “The collaboration with ABB is a significant milestone for KMITL, especially in the area of nurturing students with knowledge of industrial robotics to equip them with the necessary skills to be well-placed in Thailand’s changing and growing industrial landscape.”

KMITL was founded in 1960 in Nonthaburi province as a telecommunications training centre under the technical support of the Japanese government and was later named the Nonthaburi Institute of Telecommunications. After moving to a new location at Ladkrabang near Suvarnabhumi Airport, the campus became King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.

Engineering studies have been part of KMITL since it was founded, with a course on telecommunications engineering, and the institution is now recognised as one of the top science and technology universities in Thailand.

This will allow businesses that use SAP solutions to benefit from the simplicity and agility of leading HCI technology to deliver a modern IT architecture for SAP’s leading in-memory relational database platform, Nutanix said in a press statement.

SAP has certified the Nutanix Enterprise Cloud OS platform with AHV virtualization for SAP HANA as part of SAP’s new HCI certification program. SAP HANA is revolutionizing the speed of data processing for reporting, analytics and computational tasks. Nutanix has proven the performance and scalability required for successful SAP HANA enterprise deployments, along with simple Day-2 operations of SAP environments. This includes the ability to deliver superior throughput rates with minimal latency, as well as ensure high availability during periods of heavy database usage, Nutanix said.

“We are delighted to announce this achievement. As customers increasingly re-platform their portfolio of enterprise workloads on Nutanix, our certification will enable them to use a single platform for all their workloads,” said Sunil Potti, Chief Product and Development Officer, Nutanix.

“The certification for SAP HANA gives our customers a more modern infrastructure option. Enterprises will be able to leverage Nutanix and SAP to deliver value to their organizations by powering their database services, analytics processing, app development and more — with predictable performance and linear scalability.”

Businesses that use SAP solutions will be able to leverage the Nutanix Enterprise Cloud OS platform in production and non-production environments to rapidly provision, simplify management and easily scale their IT infrastructure for faster time to value for SAP HANA and other SAP applications.