Briefs

It is predicted that Indonesia will keep importing sugar until 2019 because of the ongoing revitalisation of sugar factories owned by state-owned sugar company PT Perkebunan Nusantara, which is expected to be completed within two years, an expert has said.
The revitalisation process of |several factories had been completed, but they could only produce 50 per cent of their capacity because the country’s sugarcane farms were still in the process of expansion, said Purwono of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) as reported by tempo.co.
“We need two years for the improvement and revitalisation of [current] sugar companies and the establishment of new ones,” he said, adding that the state-sugar owned company dominated the supply for domestic sugar consumption.
The national sugar supply was sufficient for early 2017 after an additional 600,000 tonnes had been imported last year. However, later this year the deficit could reach 500,000 tonnes, he added.
The large sugar deficit was being caused by the decreasing production of state-owned firms, Purwono went on, adding that the firm owned by PTPN IX halted operations last year because its factory needed repairs.
Purwono estimated that after |the state-owned company had been revitalised, national sugar production would reach three million to |3.2 million tonnes by 2019, which would meet domestic consumption of 235,000 tonnes per month. |– The Jakarta Post

Cyber attack losses
rise in VN in 2016
 Computer viruses caused losses of 10.4 trillion dongs (US$470 million, |Bt ) in 2016, surpassing the 8.7 trillion dongs the year before, according |to the latest report from the BKAV Technology Group.
Ransomware, viruses spreading through USB, spam messages and cyber attacks were major problems last year, the report said.
Ransomware is computer malware that installs covertly on a victim’s computer, executes a cryptovirology attack, and demands a ransom to decrypt it or not publish it.
Last year saw a boom in ransomware, with 16 per cent of emails having ransomware, 20 times |the 2015 figure.
Viruses spreading through USBs continued to grow in 2016 despite the efforts of Microsoft to cut the “auto run” function. Around 83 per cent of USBs had been affected by viruses last year, the same as in 2015.
Around 16 million computers were affected by viruses through USBs.
Last year 50 per cent of users persisted with their habit of opening file attachments in emails, the same as the year before.
In the report, BKAV appreciated the efforts of Facebook and mobile phone service providers to restrict spam messages.
An advanced persistent threat (APT), a network attack in which an unauthorised person gains access to a network and stays there undetected for a long period of time, was another threat, one that successfully attacked Vietnam Airlines in July.
The threat has been recorded |since 2012, with BKAV discovering many APTs turning up on the |systems of businesses and other organisations after malware was |sent by hackers.
BKAV predicted that in 2017 there would be more APT attacks on |businesses and organisations.
Malware would increase in mobile phones and the Internet of Things like router wifi and camera and IP. |— Viet Nam News