Dealing with cyber attacks

·26 min·2 clips

Singapore's cyber security chief explains why they publicly named a state-linked hacking group targeting water and power supplies.

The episode begins with host Zoe Kleinman introducing Singapore's cyber security challenges. She interviews David Koh, chief executive of Singapore's Cyber Security Agency, about a July cyber attack targeting critical infrastructure. Koh explains that Home and Security Minister K. Shanmugam made an unprecedented public announcement naming threat actor UNC3886, believed to be state-sponsored. Koh discusses why Singapore chose to disclose the attack while avoiding direct state attribution. He lists critical infrastructure sectors including water, power, telecommunications, hospitals, and transportation. Koh notes that advanced persistent threat actor activity in Singapore has increased more than four times in the last four years. He distinguishes these from criminal ransomware attacks, describing ransomware as a borderless business ecosystem. Koh emphasizes international cooperation is needed to combat cyber threats. The episode then shifts to a segment about AI-generated band Velvet Sundown. Reporter Chris Vallance investigates the hoax surrounding the band, which gained millions of streams on Spotify with AI-generated music and images. Trust and safety expert Tim Boucher reveals he pretended to be band spokesperson Andrew Fraylon to critique media practices. Boucher discusses how AI is creating a 'collapse of reality' where authenticity signals are harder to verify. The identity of Velvet Sundown's actual creators remains unknown. The episode includes listener contributions about tech mini-adventures, including one about installing Chrome OS Flex on an old PC. Kleinman shares her personal story of losing her grandmother's wedding ring at a beach and recovering it through a Facebook community post. Metal detector enthusiast Doug Hamlin responds to the post and finds the ring. Hamlin discusses how he uses Facebook groups to help people recover lost items. The episode concludes with contact information for listeners to share their own tech stories.

As heard by us

Singapore's cyber defence story sits alongside an AI hoax and a listener's tech mini adventure.

The episode opens in Singapore, where Zoe Kleinman speaks to the man leading the city-state's fight against international cyber attackers after the home and security minister said a cyber attack was under way.

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Why you'd press play

For when cyber defence, AI mischief, and a metal detector all share one queue.

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