The Coca-Cola Company has launched Sprite Lemon+ in Thailand and Australia in line with the global roll-out of the brand’s “Heat Happens” platform. Sprite Lemon+ contains vitamin B3 to help encourage people to ‘think zesty’ and refresh them mentally.
This is a great example of how Sprite combines functionality, while maintaining the brand’s refreshment positioning.
The campaign in Thailand focuses on Gen Z and office workers who encounter stress in their daily life – studying, taking exams, or finding a work-life balance that requires intense refreshment.
In Thailand, Sprite Lemon+ is available in a zero sugar format, while in Australia, it is sold as Sprite Lemon+ and Sprite Lemon+ Zero Sugar.
Bubbles O2 Sdn Bhd, Malaysia’s producer of naturally oxygenated mineral water Bubbles O2, has launched Bubbles O2 Flavoured Mineral Water. The latest flavoured mineral water will be sold across all AEON BiG outlets in Malaysia as part of a deal signed with AEON BiG Sdn Bhd at the recent MIHAS 2022.
The flavoured water is free from sugar, calories, carbs, fat and protein and comes in three flavours – peach, apple and lemon.
Flavoured oxygenated mineral water is a new segment in Malaysia’s bottled water market and is expected to attract consumers looking for health and taste.
Bubbles O2 plans to export its products to Japan, the Middle East and the US. Right now, the company sells the oxygenated mineral water in Brunei, a market that contributed 5% towards the company’s total revenue in 2021. The goal is to derive 20-30% of its revenue from the export market by 2025.
A new lavender-infused cold brew coffee, a quintessential, purple-themed menu, and more are set to colour The Coffee Bean & Tea LeafÂź Malaysia outlets purple in conjunction with its silver anniversary
Kuala Lumpur, 9th September 2022 â Commemorating 25 years of serving up authentic flavours of the world to the tabletop of Malaysians, The Coffee Bean & Tea LeafÂź Malaysia is celebrating its silver jubilee! This special occasion marks the introduction of a specially curated limited-time beverage as well as a celebrative menu of well-loved Malaysian flavours in desserts, dishes and treats dashed with a touch of our signature purple â because we can all agree, what is a birthday celebration without cakes (and more)!
â25 years on, we are grateful that we are able to continue sharing our passion for authentic flavours with Malaysians from all walks of life,â said Fiona Rodrigues, Head of Marketing & Innovation, The Coffee Bean & Tea LeafÂź Malaysia. âThis celebration goes out to all the good times weâve shared together, whether itâs over a hot cuppa, a warm hearty meal or a shared slice of cake. With every year we spend together, we continue to make it our utmost priority to make every visit to The Coffee Bean & Tea LeafÂź one that is reminiscent of coming home, just as much as Malaysians have given us a place to call home for the past 25 years.â
Coco Yam Tart (Slice)
Especially crafted for our 25th anniversary celebration is the Lavender Cold Brew Latte (small RM14.50, regular RM 15.50). A delicate and sophisticated ode to our home of 25 years, the Lavender Cold Brew Latte is a purple-inspired flavour infusion of soothing lavender and uplifting cold brew coffee.
Twilight Berry (Whole)
Alongside the commemorative beverage are special menu items that marry classic Malaysian flavours with our favourite colour, purple! This includes cakes such as the delectable Twilight Berry and the taro-ly enjoyable Murasaki Blondie; the Malaysian flavour combo Coco Yam Tart; easy, scrumptious bites in the Purple Swirl and Pecan Caramel Muffin; and the savoury Asam Beef Pandesal.
Murasaki Blondie (Whole)
Alongside that, there will also be a set of 25th Anniversary merchandise in the form of mugs and tumblers for you to bring the celebration home and to keep it going! A special 25th Anniversary edition of the TCB Card â in eye-catching purple â will also be up for grabs for those who truly want to show that you were there to celebrate this milestone with us. Be sure to look out for when they hit the shelves at your neighborhood The Coffee Bean & Tea LeafÂź!
25th Anniversary Merchandise – Mug and Tumbler
To amplify the celebration, there are plenty of promotions** lined up throughout the month, starting with RM2.50 off Purple Food items*** from our special 25th Anniversary menu with purchase using the TCB Card, happening from 9th to 11th September. Following this, from 16th to 18th September, in conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebrations, you can enjoy 16% off any cold brew beverages. Besides that, from 23rd to 25th September, you can receive a special 25th Anniversary voucher (RM 5 off your next purchase, valid till 30th September 2022) with purchase of The Original Mocha Ice blendedÂźïž Drink, The Original Vanilla Ice blendedÂźïž Drink, Chai Tea Latte (hot / iced), Latte (hot / iced), Cappuccino (hot / iced), or Americano (hot / iced)! Finally, from 23rd to 30th September, look out for a promo code on The Coffee Bean & Tea LeafÂź Malaysiaâs 25th Anniversary page on the official website for 25% off any Purple Food items; and get a free Purple Beverage/Food with a minimum TCB Card top-up of RM100!
Purple Swirl
** Terms & conditions apply.
*** Twilight Berry, Murasaki Blondie, Coco Yam Tart and Purple Swirl only.
The product line has been revamped to cater to the demands of the Gen Z consumers who are conscious beauty shoppersÂ
KUALA LUMPUR, 9 September 2022 – Nanowhite, the leading brightening skincare specialist under parent company Tohtonku Sdn Bhd, has relaunched its young adults acne skincare line, Nanowhite Fresh, with 100% natural ingredients while being sustainable, eco-friendly, vegan and cruelty free.
Tohtonku Sdn Bhd Executive Director Jasper Lim said, âAs we constantly look to evolve, we are inspired by Generation Z and their mission to make the world a better place. They are the most conscious and discerning consumers to-date and after listening to their demands, we revamped our product line to be as ethical, sustainable and close to nature as possible.â
Tohtonku Sdn Bhd Executive Director Jasper Lim
The latest Nanowhite Fresh range is made specifically for young adults between the ages of 16 to 21 to help them tackle the challenges of acne-prone skin. It is formulated with 10X more vitamin C than other Nanowhite products and is made with 100% natural tea tree and peppermint essential oils to control excess sebum and oil for clearer-looking skin. It is clinically proven to reduce acne count in just 1 day!
Guests at the Media launch of Nanowhite Fresh
A dose of Vitamin C is added to help brighten up the skin for a more radiant complexion, while the formulations are dermatologically tested to be safe, gentle, non-drying and non-stripping for the skin.
Built on the concept of Clear up, Cheer Up, the Nanowhite Fresh range is made to help young adults tackle the problem of acne while promising them clear skin and a joyful beauty routine through a total skincare solution – Treat, Prevent and Post Care.
Guests learning about essential oils at the Nanowhite Media Launch
âAcne is a common problem among young adults that can be both mentally and physically challenging for a young person. The product range promises to help Gen Z achieve clear and healthy skin naturally, boosting their confidence to be the best version of themselves,â says Lim.
The range was created with the aim of making a positive impact on the consumer and environment, hence does not carry out animal testing and uses eco-friendly packaging while remaining minimal and natural in its ingredients.
The revamped eco-friendly packaging is a colourful transformation of mood-lifting juicy hues to communicate the energy of Gen Z who are young and experimental. This is combined with a clean minimalist design and soft pastel colours that denote expertise and trust to produce the best skincare products. The entire look and feel of the brand aims to celebrate the uniqueness and self-expression of the new generation.
The Nanowhite Fresh range consists of:
Clarifying Whip Cleanser, 100g, RM20.90
Cleanser for normal to oily skin to lift away impurities and excess sebum
Deep Cleansing Gel, 100g, RM20.90
Cleanser for normal skin to slough off dead skin cells and purify pores
Gentle Cleansing Milk, 100g, RM20.90
Intensely moisturising cleanser for sensitive skin
Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser, 100g, RM20.90
Cleanser for very oily skin to purge trapped residue from pores and eliminate dead skin cells
Miracle Mist, 125ml, RM26.90
Tone, hydrate and control excess oil to prep skin
Acne Clearing Gel, 30ml, RM43.90
Treat and control acne without scars
Oil Control Mattifying Moisturiser, 50ml, RM27.90
Moisturise skin while protecting it against environmental pollutantsÂ
Skin Renewing Sleeping Essence, 40ml, RM27.90
Retexturise skin while locking in moisture at night
The product range will start to retail across the country at all Watsons stores and Shopee platform.
Malaysia, September 8, 2022 â Malaysia is home to a melting pot of cultures and unique palates. This Malaysia Day, foodpanda brings back nostalgic memories with a variety of local delicacies specially made by their very own HomeChefs.
This amazing array of kuih-muih include local favourites such as Karipap, Onde-Onde, Cucur Badak, Pulut Panggang, Keledek Goreng and Kek Sarang Semut.
Sayantan Das, Chief Executive Officer, foodpanda Malaysia said, âWe want to enable these HomeChefs to continue to earn an income. Many of them started these businesses after losing their main source of income during the pandemic. Their passion for cooking and mutual love for food has allowed us to work with them to welcome more customers into their âkitchensâ to enjoy delicious home cooked food. We hoped that by launching HomeChefs, we could provide them with the launchpad they needed to reach a wider customer base.â
HomeChef is an initiative started by foodpanda to provide a platform for aspiring chefs to earn an income while doing what they enjoy â cooking. Through this introduction, Malaysian chefs who do not have the capital to set up shop are still able to cook from their kitchens and grow their orders while achieving their personal entrepreneurial goals.
For the owner of Warung Tok Ciden, Herman Sinwan, he said that the pandemic resulted in him having to close down three of his restaurants in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur. âIt was then that I decided to set up my very own home business and list it on the foodpanda app. The platform has helped us tremendously in generating an income and for that, I am very thankful.â
Masrufa Binti Madi, owner of Ameera Kitchen Bake and Cook shared that the pandemic resulted in her having to take leave without pay from her previous company. âTo cope with this, I suggested the idea of starting my own online business to my husband. We started off by selling desserts such as Banana Cake, Royal Butter and more on Facebook and Instagram. When the business was more established, we registered our business officially and listed it on foodpanda to increase our sales.â
âIn the spirit of celebrating all things Malaysian and our much-loved local flavours, foodpanda Malaysia continues to support SMEs and home businesses by providing them with the support that they need for success and to achieve their full potential,â added Sayantan.
To find out more about the HomeChef initiative by foodpanda, please visit https://bit.ly/3RHlgZG.
Friday, 9 September 2022 –Â The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) through its agency, the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has organised the 18th edition of the Malaysia International Halal Exhibition (MIHAS) 2022 in a hybrid format. Recognising the creative culture and innovative excellence of international Halal businesses, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the prestigious 2022 MIHAS Awards ceremony was held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) on 9 September 2022.
In addition to the participation of local companies, submission from international companies were also accepted including exhibitors from Kuwait, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, Palestine dan United Arab Emirates (UAE). MIHAS Awards evaluated the spirit of innovation and creativity presented in the form of products, services, exhibition booth designs and social media platforms dedicated to promote the Halal economy. The categories of the MIHAS Awards comprised of The Best Booth Award, Most Innovative Award (Food and Beverage Products, Non-Food & Beverage and Services), Best MIHAS Promotion via Social Media and the Halal Achievement.
MATRADE CEO, Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz hopes that MIHAS Awards will attract more local and international exhibitors to participate in MIHAS in the future. âThis is because the potential of the global Halal industry is huge and it opens the door wide to opportunities for these companies to explore new markets,â Datuk Mohd Mustafa added.
Datuk Mohd Mustafa explained, “Through the MIHAS Promotion Award ia Best Social Media, exhibitors have highlighted the creativity and innovation of their products and services by leveraging on social media platforms. This strategy further encourages more Malaysian business to elevate their digitalisation efforts. This is in line with MATRADE’s agenda outlined in the National Trade Blueprint 2021-2025, thus promoting a culture of business digitalisation among exporters.”
All 1,258 MIHAS 2022 exhibitors were automatically eligible for selection in the Best Malaysian and International Booth Award, while the Best Promotion via Social Media Award and Most Innovative Award, required MIHAS exhibitors to register online to be evaluated.
The submissions for the Best Booth and Pavilion Award were evaluated in terms of creativity and uniqueness of design, presentation and overall appearance.
The selection for the Innovative Award was based on the participating company’s nomination and pitching presentation (conducted physically). A a total of 61 entries were received, which includes 37 entries from the Food and Beverage segment, 14 from the Non-Food segment and 10 entries from the Services. The evaluation of submissions in this category focused on aspects of quality and innovation applied in product design or service offerings. The sustainability aspect exhibited by participants in this category also scored highly.
Impactful efforts to promote MIHAS 2022 were recognised through the Best Promotion via Social Media category. This category aimed to encourage companies to use social media platforms creatively in promoting their products, services and brands, and at the same time publicise their respective participation at the MIHAS 2022 exhibition. The effectiveness of social media strategies, the volume of likes and shares, engagement rate with which reflected responses to complaints or criticisms were responded to and managed, as well as the use of hashtags such as #MIHAS2022 #ChooseMalaysia #MIHASAwards2022 were among the performance indicators of this award category.
The Best Halal Achievement Award was curated to extend appreciation to Halal industry strategic partners and their effort to boost the country’s Halal exports at the global level continuously.
The Award winners were evaluated and selected by a panel of judges with various backgrounds and expertise in the relevant fields. The selection of winners is made based on the overall characteristics of products and services including its originality, innovative elements, appearance and Halal quality.
(from left) Mr Wong Wai Wai: General Manager (Operation Department) of Pepper Lunch Singapore; Mitsunobu San: General Manager of SFBI (Suntory F&B International) Singapore; Adachi San: Managing Director of SFBI (Suntory F&B International); Mr Kusnadi Rahardja: Co-Founder & CEO of Boga Group; Mr Harianto Teh: Managing Director of Boga Group; Mr Leong: Director of Pepper Lunch Malaysia; Ms Micco Goh: Shareholder of Pepper Lunch
Targeting To Open More Than 10 Outlets By 2023
Malaysia, September 8, 2022Â â Good news for all Pepper Lunch lovers! This DIY (Do-It-Yourself) steakhouse now welcomes Pepper Lunch Malaysia and Boga Group as the Master Franchisee in Malaysia. Having entered the Malaysian market in 2019, this joint venture promises the wonderful potential of more Pepper Lunch outlets opening by 2023.
Pepper Lunch is a Japanese “fast-steak” restaurant with nearly 500 outlets worldwide. Presenting a novel concept of sizzling Steaks, Pastas, Curry Rice, and the signature Pepper Rice, Pepper Lunch promises a dynamic and fresh culinary experience for everyone at an affordable price.
Goh Ching Mun, Director of Pepper Lunch Malaysia said, âWe are excited to be collaborating with Boga Group to continuously grow our presence in Malaysia. We believe that their experience of being the Master Franchisee in Indonesia will benefit us and guide us in the right direction for more customers to enjoy the much-loved Pepper Rice.â
Having first opened in Ofuna, Kanagawa in 1994, Pepper Lunch allows customers to be their own master chef. The finest and freshest ingredients are assembled on a patented sizzling hot teppan and customers are able to immerse themselves in the wholesome experience of âSizzling It Your Wayâ. For a different twist, customers can experiment with the exquisitely crafted sauces to create a taste of their own. Trust us when we say, itâs guaranteed to be simply irresistible!
President Director of Boga Group, Mr Kusnadi said that Pepper Lunch has been growing in demand, hence the decision to collaborate with Pepper Lunch Malaysia to be the Master Franchisee in Malaysia comes as no surprise. âWe look forward to continuously working together to grow and expand in Malaysia. Our goal is to have 20 outlets in 5 years and we believe that Pepper Lunch Malaysia is the ideal partner to make our expansion plans a reality.â
At Pepper Lunch, meals are made using an electromagnetic cooker. The iron plate can be heated up to 260C in 70 seconds and remain hot at approximately 80C for more than 20 minutes. Meat grilled at this temperature range remains tender and juicy. The iron plate also keeps food warm for a longer period so that customers can enjoy the full flavour of the dish.
At the moment, some of the more popular dishes at Pepper Lunch are the Sirloin Steak, Beef Pepper Rice, Chicken Pepper Rice, Beef Aglio Olio and Cheesy Omelette Chicken/Beef. With the announcement of this master franchise between Pepper Lunch Malaysia and Boga Group, there will be no changes to the existing menu. However, new items are set to be introduced from time to time.
SFBI (Asia-Pacific) Pte Ltd is currently the Franchisor for Pepper Lunch in Asia.
About Pepper Lunch
Started in Japan in 1994, Pepper Lunch is a DIY casual dining concept, with nearly 500 outlets worldwide. Pepper Lunch promises a dynamic and unique culinary experience for everyone by presenting the novel concept of sizzling Premium Steaks, Pastas, Cheese Curry Rice and signature Pepper Rice. Founded by trained chef, Kunio Ichinose, his vision is to provide fast, tasty steak, at reasonable prices for people who wish to have a meat dish every day. Ichinoseâs strong passion for serving tasty steak and customersâ dedicated support has been the driving force for Pepper Lunchâs rapid expansion beyond Asia and around the world.
About Boga Group Boga Group is one of the leading restaurant groups in Indonesia. Established in 2002, it is now operating 15 brands with more than 300 outlets across the country. At the moment, Boga Group is the largest operator of Pepper Lunch outside of Japan with 68 stores. For further information, please visit: https://boga.id
Refreshed brand signifies a new era for Boost as a regional full spectrum fintech company, financially empowering millions of users and merchants
Boostâs overall transaction volume grew 8% to RM2.9 billion in the first half of 2022 and net revenue growing in a similar manner
Boost plans to be Unstoppable in its mission of simplifying financial access for users and merchants in the region
Kuala Lumpur, 7 September 2022 â Following the recent Digital Bank License award from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Boost launched its refreshed brand today, along with an update on future plans for the coming months and 2023. The refreshed brand embodies Boostâs aspiration to fuel greater financial inclusion for Malaysia and across the region by paving the way for unstoppable growth through the power of technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
Boostâs brand refresh is the next phase of its repositioning exercise that started since last year after unifying Axiataâs digital financial services under one roof. Since then, the Boost brand, which was previously only associated with an eWallet business, extended its offerings well beyond cashless payments into alternative lending, insurtech, and cross-border payment services â evolving into a full spectrum fintech company. As the next step in its evolution, the refreshed brand introduces new secondary visual elements that call out its various business verticals while also refining the overall logo with a bolder look.
(L-R) Sheyantha Abeykoon, Group CEO of Boost and Diana Boo, CMO of Boost officially launching the new refreshed and unstoppable Boost brand
âHaving successfully ignited confidence in Malaysians adopting digital financial solutions for nearly five years now, Boost remains at the forefront of the industry through innovative fintech solutions that leverage AI to fuel winning ambitions and unstoppable growth. Our overall business continued to see strong growth as Boost achieved significant milestones since then, such as securing investment-grade A1 rating from RAM for our lending business and winning the Digital Bank License, to quote a few watershed events. As we chart new frontiers, our refreshed brand reflects our relentless ambition to break boundaries and empower everyone across the region with accessible and simplified digital financial solutions,â said Sheyantha Abeykoon, Group Chief Executive Office of Boost.
The Journey So Far: Charting a Strong Growth Momentum
Since the start of the year, Boostâs holistic fintech ecosystem spanning its consumer fintech app, merchant solutions, AI-based lending business, as well as cross-border payment platform continues to reach new heights. This is evidenced by its overall gross transactional value (GTV) increasing 26.8% year-to-date (YTD) reaching RM2.9 billion in the first half of 2022, with net revenue growing in a similar manner.
Additionally, Boost recorded more than 2x uplift YoY in loan value disbursed regionwide, 43.1% uplift in merchant touchpoints reaching over 500,000 across Malaysia and Indonesia, 10.5% uplift in userbase to over 10 million, and 4-digit growth in usage of BoostBillsâ innovative features. Today, millions of customers regionwide, comprising both users and merchants, have been empowered by Boost and the regional fintech player expects its unstoppable growth momentum to continue.
Boostâs pursuit to innovate and simplify financial solutions led to its venture into the bill payment space in 2018 with BoostBills, Malaysiaâs unique online bill payment feature that enables users to automate, view, and pay multiple bills at once for over 50 billers. The innovative feature has been a tremendous hit as it saw skyrocketing trends of users leading unstoppable lives with over 5,800% increase in number of automated bill payments and more than 4,000% rise in multiple bill payments on BoostBills YoY.
Sheyantha added that: âAll of our users enjoy an unstoppable and rewarding experience that meets all their financial needs because you can access a variety of solutions in one powerful and unstoppable consumer fintech app. Our merchants, on the other hand, get simplified access to the right financing support that is catered to their needs, no matter how small. Our main aim is to inspire users and merchants to go further and lead unstoppable lives to be the best versions of themselves.â
The New Now: An Unstoppable and Bold Brand for All
Corresponding with Boostâs continuous growth, the refreshed brand signifies a new unstoppable era of Boost as a leading regional full spectrum fintech brand that financially empowers users and merchants, while also staying true to its strong brand legacy that its customers have grown to love. It brings forth an enhanced logo thatâs taller and more compact with a deeper red hue, accompanied by a colourful trail, and most importantly, a new bold âBe Unstoppableâ tagline.
Diana Boo, Chief Marketing Officer of Boost, said: âEvery aspect of the brand refresh from the logo and typography to the new colourful trail and tagline went through careful considerations to inspire our customers to face any challenge in life, and realise their full potential. In addition, the look and feel has also completely transformed our Boost app and website, designed to be more accessible and friendly for all to encourage digital adoption and greater financial inclusion. We hope to help people feel unburdened by their financial woes, and to have the freedom to explore infinite possibilities â that is what it means to âBe Unstoppableâ.â
The Future: Explore New Possibilities with Innovative Solutions
In the coming months, Boost customers can expect more enhanced consumer lending propositions, savings and investment solutions along with a venture into a new market, whilst doubling down in Indonesia as building blocks in preparation towards the digital bank. The much-anticipated digital bank is expected to democratise the industry and fuel greater financial inclusion by making financial services more accessible for the underbanked and unbanked with innovative fintech solutions.
âIn Indonesia, we are expanding our proposition by partnering with ecosystem players in industries like FMCG, Telco, direct-to-home content and so forth. We are also looking to see how we can transition our very successful fintech lending model into value-added merchant solutions and products, similar to what has taken hold in Malaysia. We will also be entering into landmark partnerships to further mobilise funding for loan book growth via banking and non-conventional sources,â added Sheyantha.
Boost also revealed a slew of new product line-ups for both users and merchants scheduled to be released throughout 2022 and 2023 with rewarding experiences, from the introduction of bigger wallet sizes and more. Â Among its recent launches is that merchants will be able to leverage on the new premium Biz Booster, a data-as-a-service (DaaS) analytical tool, to push boundaries and expand their business further.
Kaspersky expert reveals the group’s âGoldDragon clusterâ targeting media, think-tanks in South Korea
8 September 2022
Nearly 10 years since Kaspersky experts unmasked an active cyberespionage campaign primarily targeting South Korean think-tanks, the state-sponsoredgroup dubbed as âKimsukyâ continues to show prolific updating of tools and tactics to victimise North Korea-related entities.
Kasperskyâs senior expert revealed more of his findings, including the possibility of this Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) threat actor expanding its operations with its abundant capabilities.
Kimsuky, also known as Thallium, Black Banshee and Velvet Chollima, has been in Kasperskyâs radar since 2013 and it is known to update its tools very quickly to hide its infrastructure and make it harder for security researchers and auto-analysis systems to acquire payloads.
Seongsu Park, Lead Security Researcher for Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) at Kaspersky, found that the notorious group has continuously configured multi-stage command and control servers (C2) with various commercial hosting services located around the world.
A command and control server is a server that helps a threat actor control their malware and send malicious commands to its members, regulate spyware, send payload, and more.
âFrom less than 100 C2 servers in 2019, Kimsuky now has 603 malicious command centers as of July this year which clearly suggests that the threat actor is posed to launch more attacks, possibly beyond the Korean peninsula. Its history suggests that government agencies, diplomatic entities, media, and even cryptocurrency businesses in APAC should be on high alert against this stealthy threat,â says Park.
Kimsukyâs C2 servers discovered by Kaspersky
Kimsuky’s GoldDragon cluster
The skyrocketing number of C2 servers is part of Kimsukyâs continuous operations in APAC and beyond. In early 2022, Kasperskyâs team of experts observed another wave of attacks targeting journalists and diplomatic and academic entities in South Korea.
Dubbed as the âGoldDragonâ cluster, the threat actor initiated the infection chain by sending a spearphishing email containing a macro-embedded Word document. Various examples of different Word documents used for this new attack were uncovered, each showing different decoy contents related to geopolitical issues in the Korean Peninsula.
Contents of decoy
Further analysis allowed Park to discover server-side scripts related to the GoldDragon cluster, which allowed the experts to map the groupâs C2 operation.
C2 server structure
The actor sends a spear-phishing email to the potential victim to download additional documents.
If the victim clicks the link, it results in a connection to the first stage C2 server, with an email address as parameter.
The first stage C2 server verifies the incoming email address parameter is an expected one and delivers the malicious document if it’s in the target list. The first stage script also forwards the victim’s IP address to the next stage server.
When the fetched document is opened, it connects to the second C2 server.
The corresponding script on the second C2 server checks the IP address forwarded from the first stage server to check if its an expected request from the same victim. Using this IP validation scheme, the actor verifies whether the incoming request is from the victim or not.
On top of that, the operator relies on several other processes to carefully deliver the next payload such as checking OS type and predefined user-agent strings.
Another notable technique Kimsuky utilises is the use of verification process of the client to confirm itâs relevant victim they want to compromise. Kaspersky experts even saw contents of decoy documents having various topics including the agenda of the â2022 Asian Leadership Conferenceâ, a form of honorarium request, and an Australian diplomatâs curriculum vitae.
âWe’ve seen that the Kimsuky group continuously evolves malware infection schemes and adopts novel techniques to hinder analysis. The difficulty in tracking this group is that it’s tough to acquire a full-infection chain. As we can see from this research, most recently, threat actors adopt victim verification methodology in their command and control servers. Despite the difficulty of getting server-side objects, if we analyze an attacker’s server and malware from the victimâs side, we can fully understand how the threat actors operate their infrastructure and what kind of techniques they employ,â adds Park.
To protect systems and networks from Kimsukyâs clandestine tactics and techniques, Kaspersky experts suggest:
Full-context based defense is the key
Hit-and-run style defense never works
Security teams and experts need to understand the full-context of threats; it is advisable to have services that provide in-depth and real-time reports and analysis like Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal
Diversify defense points
Cooperation with other industry
Each sector has different sets of strength and expertise
Cooperation is essential to understand multidimension of cyber threats in turn allowing better strategies against them
Experience luxurious comfort with Cowayâs latest sleep technology
KUALA LUMPUR, 8 September 2022 â A good nightâs sleep is important in more ways than one. Quality sleep each night contributes to a healthier immune system, a better mood, increased heart function and promotes a healthier body weight and improved brain function.
On the other hand, a lack of quality sleep each night can ultimately result in mood disorders, depression, anxiety and other negative effects. To help Malaysians improve sleep habits, Coway has unveiled its latest Prime II Series Mattress which promises a life-changing sleep experience.
Built with a cooling and ventilated foam complete with maximum support and minimal disturbance (5-zone latex and 7-zone pocket spring), this new and improved mattress is a product of Cowayâs revolutionary technology that adapts to an individualâs body curve and posture. The new ventilated foam provides better ventilation and there is a choice of soft or firm mattress to suit specific sleeping needs.
It comes in both the Queen and King-sized mattress with a slim and sleek dark blue velvet and dark grey PU leather headboard and frame for a touch of contemporary luxe look. The mattress also sits on a high legged base, specially designed to accommodate those with a robot vacuum for easy cleaning underneath the bed.
âBeing the Best Life Solution Company, we constantly strive to improve our products as a result of our extensive research and development (R&D). With the Prime II Series Mattress, we not only developed a premium mattress but also made it affordable for all Malaysians to own via our rental scheme. It is our goal to provide Malaysians with a better sleep experience. This latest innovation is not only comfortable but also hygienic, thanks to our 7-Step Mattress Care Service,â said Kyle Choi, Managing Director of Coway Malaysia.
He added that the Prime II Series Mattress was developed with users in mind, the newly introduced mattress comes in soft or firm options, the 5-zone 100% natural latex and 7-zone pocket spring for maximum support with minimal disturbance. The new mattress topper is also anti-static and has cooling effects that relieves tension and ensures a cool and better sleep quality. With the newly technologically-advanced implementation, its ventilated foam enhances air flow and traps less heat.
PRIME II
In a bid to provide customers with the optimum level of sleep hygiene, the Prime II Series comes with a free changeable mattress topper* that helps to always keep the mattress at its peak. In ensuring healthy, sound sleep all year round, Cowayâs routine 7-Step Mattress Care Service by Cowayâs professional Home Care Technicians once every four months, uses the latest hi-tech equipment to clean and care for the mattress. It is cleaned following a 7-step service that includes dust level measuring, frame cleaning, frame wiping, side edge cleaning, mattress cleaning, dust mite repellent and UV sterilisation.
âOur customers are always surprised at how their mattresses that seemingly look clean are actually really dirty – filled with dust mites, fine dust particles, dead skin, mould, bacteria, sweat and even fungi. All these are almost impossible to see with the naked eye, which makes mattress care really important for a healthier quality of sleep. If left uncleaned, it can result in adverse health effects such as allergies, sinus, pink-eye, itchiness, rashes and much more,â said Choi.
This is one of the unique services that Coway provides and it is also what makes this mattress a worthy investment. From only RM139 a month, Malaysians can own their very own premium Prime II Series Mattress. Customers are not just getting a mattress but also a Homecare Technician that provides regular mattress cleaning services.
To experience life-changing sleep, visit www.coway.com.my now to learn more about the Prime II Series Mattress.
*The free changeable topper is only applicable for customers who subscribe to the rental scheme
Tipco Foods Public Company Limited made a new juice product, Tipco Play Guava Ume, available at THAIFEX â Anuga Asia 2024. Tipco Play Guava Ume is an exciting...
