J3tPost Junction

CNY card from Ken..

January 25, 2012 jetstorm Leave a comment

Ken did this in school.. and his teacher said can be for anyone, so he made for me.. *awww*

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CNY card from Ken..

Happy CNY 2012..

January 23, 2012 jetstorm Leave a comment

Here’s wishing all readers, “Happy Chinese New Year”..

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Happy CNY 2012..

Happy Chinese New Year 2012

January 19, 2012 jetstorm Comments off

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Happy Chinese New Year 2012

On the DBS/POSB ATM card fraud case in Singapore

January 16, 2012 jetstorm Comments off

So I’ve been writing in to a Minister once again. Probably not the first or last person to bring up these simple facts to Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Finance of Singapore, but I thought I would contribute my two cents (ha, ha). Here it goes :

…
Delivered-To: …
Subject: Improving security for ATM/NETS cards
From: Low Ee Mien [...]
To: tharman_s@mof.gov.sg

Dear Minister for Finance,

I am writing in my personal capacity regarding the recent DBS/POSB ATM fraud case. As we have seen, the two-factor authentication mechanism of ATM/NETS cards has been defeated. The perpetrators have managed to successfully obtain both factors of authentication : something you have (ATM card details via the card skimming device), and something you know (ATM PIN via a strategically-located pinhole camera).

It has been proven time and again that the magnetic stripe data such as those being used in the ATM and NETS cards in Singapore is quite easily copied. This magnetic stripe technology was invented over 50 years ago and is able to contain at most a few bytes of information, and has no processing capability of any sort, nor any form of cryptographic technology to resist cloning or tampering. In short, this is a completely outdated technolgy that the whole of our nation is using for our daily financial transactions, at thousands of retail establishments, ATM’s, top-up kiosks, and so on.

Something needs to be done about this glaring security vulnerability.

As you can see from the link below, Malaysia’s Maybank is already ahead of Singapore in this respect :
http://www.maybank2u.com.my/mbb_info/m2u/public/personalDetail04.do…

The Maybank ATM card includes an embedded smartcard chip, which as their website states, offers “Increased security, as the smart chip is tamper-resistant and the data stored is harder to extract and copy”. This is the key point : smartcard technology, well established by now, mitigates many of the shortcomings of magnetic stripes. It is much harder to simply clone compared to magnetic stripes and requires sophisticated and intrusive physical attacks to get to the private key data contained in the smartcard chip. The technology currently required to carry out such attacks does not fit in a simple card skimmer that can be installed in an ATM card slot. Other security measures such as revocation of the certificates of any particular set of smartcards can be carried out on demand. In addition, manufacturers have already included a number of on-board security measures in smartcard processor chips to resist cloning and tampering.

Hence, in the interest of increased security for banking customers, I would like to suggest that MAS work towards regulations requiring all banks issuing ATM and NETS cards to include embedded smartcard technology such as the EMV technology being used by VISA and other credit card issuers.

As an additional security measure, I would also like to suggest industry-wide regulation to eventually disallow transaction fallback to magnetic strip reading, thus removing one of the main factors contributing to ATM card fraud. The ultimate goal is for ATM/NETS cards to be issued *without* any form of magnetic stripes whatsoever, and ATM’s as well as POS terminals to be updated to smartcard-acceptance only, thus finally retiring this outdated 50-year old magnetic stripe technology.

Thank you for your attention.

Low Ee Mien (Mr)

- Sure, smartcards are not impossible to defeat, but they are much harder than the increasingly laughable magnetic stripes, with card skimmers being more readily available nowadays, even apparently custom fitted to closely resemble the “anti-intrusion” devices installed over the ATM card slots. Some have said that 3D printers have now been used to create the exact shapes of these “anti-skimming” devices, or Fraudulent Device Inhibitor (FDI), in an ironic application of cutting-edge technology being used to defeat a simple physical device that was meant to guard against just such occurrences of card skimmers being installed.

The measures announced by the bank are well and fine, such as blocking foreign ATM withdrawals for folks who have not used them overseas, sending out SMS messages and so on, but all these reek of reactionary and stop-gap measures.

I don’t quite agree with the DBS CEO’s claim that replacing the magstripes with smartcard chips has its own set of problems, such as : “The problem with that is it’s a huge inconvenience to customers. When you go to the US, they don’t accept chip cards”. My man, the world is moving away from this outdated magstripe technology, I am frankly surprised and amazed simply that Singapore has not gone along and our neighbour Malaysia has. Fact is, we are actually behind Maybank Malaysia in this area and there’s quite a bit of catching up to do.

J3tpost from :
On the DBS/POSB ATM card fraud case in Singapore

2011 Indicative Grade Profile for NTU (NTU cut-off points for 2012)

January 16, 2012 jetstorm Comments off

AY2011-12 Grade Profiles, Polytechnic GPAs and Programme Places for A level and Polytechnic Applicants to NTU (Nanyang Technological University)

J3tpost from :
2011 Indicative Grade Profile for NTU (NTU cut-off points for 2012)

2011 O-Levels cut off point to Polytechnic in Singapore (JAE 2011 Cut-Off Points)

January 15, 2012 jetstorm Comments off

The CCA Bonus Point System

Applicants who meet the minimum entry requirements for admission to a Polytechnic course and have done well in CCA will receive bonus points when being considered for admission into their chosen course of study at the polytechnics.

Qualification	CCA Grade	No. of Bonus Points Awarded
GCE “O” Level holders	a. Grades of A1 – A2	2 points
GCE “O” Level holders	b. Grades of B3 – C6	1 point
ITE Higher NITEC & NITEC holders	a. Grade A	0.2 point
	b. Grade B	0.15 point
	c. Grade C	0.1 point
	d. Grade E	0.05 point

Courses available in 2011 and the JAE 2011 Cut-Off Points (COP)

COP indicates the ELR2B2 aggregate score (after deducting CCA bonus points) of the last student posted to the course under the 2011 JAE.

Courses by Group	Poly	Course Code	2011 JAE COP
A. APPLIED SCIENCES
Applied Chemistry with Pharmaceutical Science	SP	S64	12
Applied Food Science & Nutrition	TP	T26	17
Baking & Culinary Science	TP	T44	16
Biologics & Process Technology	NYP	C49	16
Biomedical Informatics & Engineering	TP	T38	19
Biomedical Science	SP	S98	8
Biomedical Science	TP	T27	11
Biomedical Science / Biomedical Laboratory Technology	NP	N59	9
Biomedical Sciences	RP	R14	19
Biotechnology	RP	R16	23
Biotechnology	SP	S72	10
Biotechnology	TP	T31	13
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering	NP	N56	13
Chemical & Green Technology	NYP	C55	17
Chemical & Pharmaceutical Technology	NYP	C73	17
Chemical Engineering	SP	S70	12
Chemical Engineering	TP	T33	18
Environmental Science	RP	R29	26
Food Science & Nutrition	NYP	C69	16
Food Science & Technology	SP	S47	14
Landscape Design & Horticulture	NP	N57	18
Materials Science	RP	R17	26
Materials Science	SP	S37	15
Medicinal Chemistry	NYP	C45	14
Molecular Biotechnology	NP	N49	10
Molecular Biotechnology	NYP	C74	13
Nutrition, Health & Wellness	SP	S44	12
Perfumery and Cosmetics Science	SP	S38	13
Pharmaceutical Science	TP	T25	13
Pharmaceutical Sciences	RP	R22	25
Pharmaceutical Sciences	NYP	C65	14
Pharmacy Science	NP	N73	10
Veterinary Bioscience	NP	N90	9
Veterinary Technology	TP	T45	11
B. BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Architecture	SP	S66	14
Civil Engineering with Business	SP	S68	17
Environmental & Water Technology	NP	N74	15
Environmental Management & Water Technology	SP	S52	14
Green Building & Sustainability	TP	T29	20
Hotel & Leisure Facilities Management	NP	N40	13
Hotel & Leisure Facilities Management	SP	S95	14
Integrated Events & Project Management	SP	S50	13
Integrated Facility Management	TP	T28	16
Landscape Architecture	SP	S94	17
Real Estate Business	NP	N48	15
Sustainable Urban Design & Engineering	NP	N89	15
C. BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT
Accountancy	NP	N51	11
Accountancy	SP	S75	11
Accountancy & Finance	NYP	C98	13
Accounting & Finance	TP	T02	11
Arts Business Management	NP	N91	11
Aviation Management & Services	TP	T04	11
Banking & Financial Services	NYP	C96	14
Banking & Financial Services	NP	N53	9
Banking & Financial Services	SP	S76	11
Business & Social Enterprise	NP	N79	12
Business Administration	SP	S71	12
Business Information Technology	NP	N61	14
Business Information Technology	SP	S82	15
Business Information Technology	TP	T36	16
Business Innovation and Design NEW!	SP	S71	-
Business Management	NYP	C94	16
Business Process & Systems Engineering	TP	T43	18
Business Studies	NP	N45	11
Business/Logistics & Operations Management/Marketing	TP	T01	14
Communications & Media Management	TP	T40	12
Consumer Behaviour and Research NEW!	RP	R48	-
Culinary & Catering Management	TP	T18	15
Customer Relationship and Service Management	RP	R34	25
Financial Business Informatics	TP	T17	14
Financial Informatics	SP	S46	12
Food & Beverage Business	NYP	C46	16
Fund Management & Administration	NYP	C56	16
Hospitality & Tourism Management	TP	T08	14
Hospitality & Tourism Management	NYP	C67	16
Hotel and Hospitality Management	RP	R37	18
Human Resource Management with Psychology	SP	S48	12
Integrated Events Management	RP	R28	20
International Business	NP	N85	6
International Business	SP	S36	8
International Supply Chain Management and Logistics Management 1	NP	N80	16
Law & Management	TP	T09	13
Leisure & Resort Management	TP	T19	15
Marketing	NYP	C99	17
Mass Media Management	NYP	C93	15
Restaurant and Culinary Operations	RP	R46	20
Retail Management	TP	T39	17
Sport & Wellness Management	NYP	C81	17
Sports & Leisure Management	RP	R27	26
Tourism & Resort Management	NP	N72	10
Tourism and Resort Management	SP	S55	12
Wellness, Lifestyle and Spa Management	RP	R44	21
D. ENGINEERING
Aeronautical & Aerospace Technology	NYP	C51	15
Aeronautical Engineering	SP	S88	12
Aerospace Avionics	RP	R20	23
Aerospace Electronics	NP	N75	13
Aerospace Electronics	SP	S90	14
Aerospace Electronics	TP	T50	15
Aerospace Engineering	TP	T51	13
Aerospace Engineering 2	RP	R40	21
Aerospace Systems & Management	NYP	C52	16
Aerospace Technology	NP	N65	12
Audio-visual Technology	NP	N76	14
Automation & Mechatronic Systems	NP	N50	21
Bioengineering	SP	S58	14
Biomedical Electronics	RP	R15	26
Biomedical Engineering	NP	N60	15
Biomedical Engineering	NYP	C71	18
Civil Aviation	RP	R39	21
Clean Energy	SP	S45	16
Clean Energy	TP	T52	19
Clean Energy Management	NP	N84	15
Common Engineering Programme	RP	R42	26
Common Engineering Programme	SP	S40	16
Common Engineering Programme	TP	T56	20
Computer Engineering	SP	S53	19
Computer Engineering	TP	T13	20
Digital & Precision Engineering	NYP	C62	17
Digital Entertainment Electronics	RP	R38	26
Electrical & Electronic Engineering	SP	S99	19
Electrical & Electronic Engineering Programme 3	TP	T05	20
Electrical Engineering	NP	N43	22
Electrical Engineering with Eco-Design	NYP	C48	20
Electronic & Computer Engineering	NP	N44	23
Electronics, Computer & Communications Engineering	NYP	C89	26
Engineering Science	NP	N93	9
Engineering with Business	SP	S42	15
Engineering with Business Management Programme	NP	N71	17
Industrial & Operations Management	RP	R11	26
Infocomm & Network Engineering	TP	T37	22
Info-Communication Engineering & Design	SP	S85	20
Manufacturing Engineering	NYP	C88	26
Mechanical Engineering	NP	N41	20
Mechanical Engineering	SP	S91	18
Mechatronics/Aerospace Engineering	TP	T06	20
Mechatronics and Robotics	SP	S73	20
Mechatronics Engineering	NYP	C87	26
Micro & Nanotechnology	RP	R30	26
Multimedia & Infocomm Technology	NYP	C75	25
Nanotechnology & Materials Science	NYP	C50	19
Renewable Energy Engineering	RP	R41	26
Supply Chain Management	RP	R21	24
Telematics & Media Technology	NYP	C53	21
E. HEALTH SCIENCES
Dental Hygiene and Therapy	NYP	C72	12
Health Management and Promotion	RP	R43	26
Health Sciences (Nursing)	NP	N69	28
Healthcare Administration	RP	R45	25
Nursing	NYP	C97	28
Optometry	NP	N83	12
Optometry	SP	S67	12
Outdoor & Adventure Learning	RP	R33	25
Sports & Exercise Sciences	RP	R26	25
Sports Coaching NEW!	RP	R49	-
F. HUMANITIES
Applied Drama and Psychology	SP	S43	13
Child Psychology & Early Education	NP	N86	11
Chinese Studies ^	NP	N70	13
Creative Writing for Television and New Media	SP	S41	12
Early Childhood Education	NP	N66	14
Early Childhood Studies	TP	T54	13
Gerontological Management Studies	TP	T53	16
Psychology Studies 4	NP	N77	10
Psychology Studies	TP	T48	9
Social Sciences( Social Work)	NYP	C47	13
G. INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Business Applications	RP	R18	25
Business Enterprise IT	NYP	C68	18
Business Informatics	NYP	C78	18
Business Information Systems	RP	R13	26
Business Intelligence & Analytics NEW!	NYP	C43	-
Business Intelligence and Analytics NEW!	TP	T57	-
Cyber & Digital Security	TP	T15	16
Digital Entertainment Technology (Games)	NYP	C70	20
Digital Forensics	TP	T55	12
Digital Visual Effects	NYP	C57	19
Engineering Informatics	NYP	C80	23
Financial Informatics	NYP	C58	15
Financial Informatics	NP	N81	14
Game & Entertainment Technology	TP	T16	19
Infocomm Security Management	SP	S54	15
Information Security	NYP	C54	17
Information Technology	NYP	C85	20
Information Technology	NP	N54	18
Information Technology	RP	R12	26
Information Technology	SP	S69	17
Information Technology	TP	T30	19
Interactive and Digital Media	RP	R31	26
Interactive Media 5	SP	S57	17
Interactive Media Informatics	TP	T34	22
IT Service Management	RP	R23	26
Mobile & Network Services	TP	T42	21
Mobile Software Development NEW!	RP	R47	-
Multimedia & Animation	NP	N55	14
Music & Audio Technology	SP	S97	12
Network Systems & Security	NP	N64	17
H. MARITIME STUDIES
Marine & Offshore Technology	NP	N42	17
Marine Engineering	SP	S63	16
Maritime Business	SP	S74	16
I. MEDIA AND DESIGN
3D Interactive Media Technology	TP	T49	21
Advertising & Public Relations	NP	N87	12
Animation & 3D Arts	NP	N92	12
Apparel Design & Merchandising	TP	T20	15
Chinese Media & Communication	NP	N88	13
Communication and Information Design	RP	R32	21
Design for Interactivity	RP	R36	22
Digital Animation	SP	S35	15
Digital Media Design (Animation)	NYP	C61	18
Digital Media Design (Games)	NYP	C60	20
Digital Media Design (Interaction Design)	NYP	C59	22
Digital Visual Effects	NP	N78	15
Environment Design	TP	T46	19
Experience and Product Design	SP	S51	16
Film, Sound & Video	NP	N82	11
Game Design	RP	R35	22
Games Design & Development	SP	S56	16
Industrial Design	NYP	C83	20
Interactive Media Design	TP	T21	18
Interior Architecture & Design	TP	T22	15
Interior Design	SP	S89	16
Mass Communication	NP	N67	10
Media and Communication	SP	S86	12
Motion Graphics & Broadcast Design	NYP	C66	18
Moving Images	TP	T23	19
New Media	RP	R19	22
Product & Industrial Design	TP	T35	19
Product Design & Innovation	NP	N68	17
Retail & Hospitality Design	TP	T47	17
Sonic Arts	RP	R24	19
Space & Interior Design	NYP	C64	18
Technology & Arts Management	RP	R25	21
Visual Communication	TP	T24	14
Visual Communication	NYP	C63	17
Visual Communication and Media Design	SP	S93	14
Visual Effects and Motion Graphics	SP	S39	16

1 – Merger of International Supply Chain Management and Logistics Management (NP)
2 – Aerospace Engineering (Quality Systems) (RP) in 2011
3 – Known as Electronics/Media & communication Technology/Computer Engineering/Microelectronics/Aerospace Electronics (TP) in 2011
4 – Known as Psychology & Community Services (NP) in 2011
5 – Known as Digital Media (SP) in 2011

J3tpost from :
2011 O-Levels cut off point to Polytechnic in Singapore (JAE 2011 Cut-Off Points)

2011 Indicative Grade Profile for NUS (NUS cut-off points for 2012)

January 15, 2012 jetstorm Comments off

Notification of Grade Profiles and Course Places for Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-levels and Local Polytechnic Diploma Applicants for the AY2012/2013 NUS Undergraduate Admissions Exercise