Mobile payment systems in Malaysia: Its potentials and consumers’ adoption strategies

Mobile payments are payment for goods and services with a mobile device in which money or funds are transferred from payer to receiver via intermediary or directly. Mobile devices include mobile phones, PDAs, etc.

Mobile Money (MM wallet) complies with Bank Negara Malaysia’s requirement is availabble to use in Malaysia. Users are allowed to pay or receive money, at anytime form anywhere with just one SMS. MM wallet provides a very secure convenient platform for merchants and consumers.

Besides that, MoneyMe is another mobile phone system that also provided in Malaysia. It provides a reliable, accessible and easy way for users to send or receive remittance to overseas, and it is sent by one user to another user regardless of the subscribed telecommunication service providers.

In Malaysia, they are 4 to 5 million mobile phones were sold last year, and up to 88% of Malaysian population subscribing to mobile phone services. There are only 460,000 Malaysians subscribed for this services in to date, and it is just 1.8% of the 25 million mobile phone subscribers in the country. However, we believed that the % of Malaysian subscribers for the mobile payment services will increase in this few years.

The strategies to encourage consumers to adopt mobile payment system are:

• provide more payment possibilities, timely access to financial assets and an alternative to cash payments. For example, users can pay the car parking without need to visit the parking metre.
• If the transaction cost of mobile payment included in the price of the purchased items become lower then it will attract more consumers.
• Organize more seminar and campaign about the advantages, benefit and awareness of mobile payment.

Some Useful links:-

http://www.neowave.com.my/mobilemoney_overview.asp

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P3-44210847.html

http://amazingcommerce.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/mobile-payment-systems-in-malaysia-its-potentials-and-consumers%E2%80%99-adoption-strategies/

http://www.justmakemoneyonline.com/2008/04/18/obopay-mobile-payment-system/


Links relating to MobileWallet & MoneyMe:-

http://www.mobileworld.com.my/v1/content/view/219/62/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/04/payforit_launch/

http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/6212-nokias-mobile-wallet.html

Phishing- Examples & Prevention methods

Phishing can be define as a criminal fraudulent process of attempting to acquire information such as unauthorized access to emails, banking accounts, credit cards details in an electronic comunication, i.e. internet.

Some examples of Phishing scams:-

Britain's top cybercrime fighters work hand-in-hand with the banking industry to stop a dangerous phishing attack on 16.8.2004. This phishing attack is a type of spoof frauds which can be intertwined with phishing scams, spam mails and Spyware.

Besides that, Trojan/Spyware are now modifying the HOSTS file in the computer to redirect to the fake webpages, thus, making the users to become a victim to phishing attack. For instance, The JS/QHosts21-A which happened in Brazil.

There are some solutions/prevention methods for Phishing, such as know how to detect phishing scams, spread the word, stay informed and take action.

• Know how to detect Phishing scams- "verify your account number", "If you don't respond within 48 hours, your account will be closed" or "Click the link below to gain access to your account", emails contain such information is probably a phishing scam.

• Spread the word- inform friends and family because they might not alert about the new phishing scams. Help to spread the Phishing scams awareness.

• Stay informed- sign up for free newsletter and receive information regarding phishing news, technological development and updates on legislation.

• Take action- best way to reduce Phishing scams is to report any suspicious scams immediately to the proper authorities by supporting the Anti-phishing act 2005.

Picture illustrations on email scams:-
{source-http://webtoolsandtips.com/uncategorized/
detecting-phishing-scam-emails/}

Some useful links:--->
http://www.anti-phishing.info/phishing-news.html
http://www.anti-phishing.info/securybanks-phishing-trojan.html
http://www.anti-phishing.info/hosts-file.html
http://www.anti-phishing.info/avoid-phishing.html
http://webtoolsandtips.com/uncategorized/detecting-phishing-scam-emails/

New Spamming Tactics

Spam cases have been increasing year by year with a tremendous amount. Among all the online threats such as fraud, worms and Trojan horse, spam is the most common and highest rate of threat.

There are indeed numbers of anti spam software to deal with this spam threat, but the spammers have taken a step ahead by coming out with new spamming tactics such as PDF Spam and Piggyback Spam. The widely known form of spam is email spam. Email spam is a practice of sending unwanted emails frequently with commercial content in large quantities to the recipients. The total amount of email spam has reached 100 billions emails per day as at April 2008. Most of the email spams are being sent to invalid email address.

I was a victim of email spam and it happened just two weeks ago where I received an email on advertisement of IT products from a China company. Without my knowledge, this email is being sent to the recipients whom I do not know and even to all my friends. I received many postmaster fail notification everyday, around 80 emails of it. It was really frustrating and annoying but the worst part is sums of my important emails stored in my inbox suddenly disappear without any trace.

Besides that, a friend of mine who opened the email spam sent from my account found that all her contact list in her msn are gone the next few days. I manage to stop this spam by changing my password. I really hope that on day, an ultimate anti spam software will be developed to stop this spam once and for all.

Some useful links about spamming:-

http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/i-005c.shtml

http://spam.abuse.net/overview/whatisspam.shtml

http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/email_bombing_spamming.html

The threat of online security: How safe is our data?

According to Global Unisys Security, Malaysia is ranked in the third place for overall level of security concern among 14 countries, which includes Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The threats of online security such as follow:-

• Web serves and services

Some of the HTTP web servers will expose visitors each time they log on to the website. The vulnerabilities of HTTP web servers may lead to denial-of-service attacks.

• Web browsers

Every version of Internet Explorer has critical threats. It will disclosure of “cookies” with users personal information, and exposure of locally- stored files.

• Instant messaging

Instant messaging is one of the programs often used by hackers to attack one’s system.

• Windows remote access services

These types of systems very dangerous, if the hacker gain control over a host with the right tools, and able to access your information as well.

• Microsoft SQL Server

Hackers gain the information from database or compromise the server, because they are several vulnerabilities.

However there are some common security tips you can brush up on your online safety:-

• Trust only yourself, or only do business with the company you know and trust.
• Only use your credit card number on internet sites that have a secure, encrypted system.
• Once you think something is wrong, leave it immediately, do not follow any of the instructions it present.

How to safeguard our personal and financial data?

Stealing of personal information or loosing information have become a major problem among computer savvy. Thus, it is significant for us to concern about the security of our personal and financial data.

Basically, there are many effective ways to safeguard our data. Mainly, by using password protected screen savers and changing password on a regular basis which recommended at least 90 days. Moreover, shall avoid using obvious password that someone easy to guess, like your birthday.


Besides that, floppy disks, CDs and computer hardware that contain personal and financial data, should be deleted or stored in a secure area until destroyed and disposed of. Thus, shall backup the data before discarding them.


By using firewalls, anti-spyware and anti-virus software also enable to safeguard the data from being stolen. It must regularly check to make sure that virus definitions and anti-spyware are up-to-date. Perform frequent scans on computer to help detect viruses. In addition, use encryption software to keep unauthorized people from reading your data.


Last but not the least, separate user accounts should be set up for every person using the same computer, so they will only have access to what is available to them under their own name and passwords.

History & Evolution of E-commerce

E-commerce began less than 40 years ago, its started in the early 1970's. Originally, it was using technology like electronic fund transfer (EFT) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). This is where the users are able to exchange the business information and make the electronic transactions, and it also allowed companies to send their sales documentation such as purchase orders, and invoices via electronic means.

E-Commerce is fast expanding in Asian, this is where more and more people are going for online shoppings. Especially, in Malaysia there is a high level of interest in e-commerce by the Malaysian government. Beginning in 1997, the Malaysian government constituted an Inter-Agency Task Force on E-commerce in order to develop a national strategic action plan and recommend policy initiatives on security, encryption technologies, and transaction tracking mechanisms for facilitating e-commerce.

eOneNet.com will be the first to produced "The Internet Success Coaching" VCD. eOneNet.com is the local e-business and internet marketing services provider in Malaysia. According to Fione Tan the President & CEO of the company said that the launching of the VCD have been ranked as the top Internet marketing VCD among top international search engines, out of some 39,300 competitve listings worldwide.

The future of e-commerce in Malaysia will be very bright but yet it will certainly depends on the trust and confidence level by the users.

Some Useful links:--->

• http://www.une.edu.au/asiacenter/KKaur.pdf
• http://www.eonenet.com/press/vcd_launch_20030826.htm
• http://globaltechforum.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=printer_friendly&doc_id=8706
  
• http://gigaom.com/2006/05/13/the-myth-reality-future

E-Commerce success & its causes

PayPal also consider one the most successful e-commerce website. Basically, PayPal is an e-commerce business that allows payments and money being transfer via the Internet. Moreover, it also serves an alternative to the traditional paper methods such as cheques and money orders.

Paypal performs payments or transactions processing for online vendors, auction sites, and other corporate users, for which it charges a fee. Well, it sometimes does charges a transaction fee for receiving money, i.e. a % of the amount sent plus an additional fixed amount.

Paypal succeeded as an e-commerce business is mainly because of its safety and security where its provide a strong control in identifying the online theft and phishing. Besides that, Paypal also provides a security key which enhance the layer of security. Thus, make the user accounts to be more resistant to intrusion and it's easy to use.

In addition, it's free to sign up for PayPal account to send money to friends and family. Users also can transfer their money from their bank account to PayPal account at no charge. PayPal transaction fees for Premier and Business accounts, is considerably low. For instance, if monthly sales is between $ 0.00U SD to $3,000.00 USD, then the price of per transaction is only $0.30USD plus 3.9%.

Paypal also enable the users to make payment without exposing credit card nor account numbers to the merchant. Thus, provide 100% protection for unauthorized payments. Moreover, provides 24/7 monitoring to prevent fraud.


For all these reasons, PayPal has succeeded as an e-commerce business.

https://www.paypal-media.com/aboutus.cfm
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_security-center-outside

E-Commerce can reduce cycle time, improve employee’s empowerment and facilitate customer support.

source: collegiateventures.wordpress.com

The use of E-commerce manages to reduce the cycle time and time-to-market tremendously. The production time from beginning to the end can be shorten by decreasing the cost and time of creating, processing, distributing, storing, and retrieving paper-based information activities. E-procurement is one of the tools to reduce cycle time in e-commerce. An enterprise is able to automate and manages processes that occur between organizations over the internet and between the private networks.

source: www.itwm.fhg.de

E-commerce also improves employee’s empowerment by decentralization of authority and decision making via empowerment and distributed systems, but simultaneously supports a centralized control at the same time. The employees are given more access to the information and power to make decision. They are able to interact with the customer electronically without having to refer to the higher authority so often as most of the information and instructions are more easily accessible.

source: www.technologypluspartners.com

Besides that, e-commerce do facilitates customer support by enabling customers to make enquiries to an enterprise without having to go to the customer services department. Customers can interact with the supplier as well as other customers and exchange information in an online portal. E-commerce also allows the customer to make purchases and transactions such as e-banking 24 hours a day anywhere anytime.

E-commerce failure & its causes

There are many successful businesses emerged from e-commerce world such as Amazon.com and eBay but they are also many businesses closed down in E-commerce world. One of the good example for this e-commerce failure is Flooz.com, an e-currency company, which sells gift certificates that can be used for payment at selected online sites. Flooz.com was a venture based in New York that provides online currency in February 1999. The company earned their money through commission received from the users who used Flooz, the gift certificates as payment.

One of the reasons for Flooz.com’s failure is the fact that the gift certificates become worthless during dot.com recession where the consumers suffered a serious impact, they are losing their money.The merchants stopped accepting the currency in early August, when Flooz.com informed them that their Web site operations had been suspended. One of the co-founder, comic actress Whoopi Goldberg lost millions when Flooz.com closed down.

Another reason for Flooz.com’s failure is because of the purchase of Flooz by a gang of thieves using stolen credit cards in Eastern Europe and Russia region. Flooz.com’s cash flow broke down after a big amount of Flooz were purchased using stolen credit cards and at the same time, Flooz.com was under the obligation to pay online retailers who were still accepting Flooz as payment.

Know more about Shalini

Yo, people.... Im Shalini from Selayang. Basically, I brought up in a very sophisticated & discipline environment. Well, Im able to converse in Tamil, English, Mandarin, little bit of cantonese & Malay. Actually, i really do hate studying and prefer to work but those working people says studying is better but i really dislike studying.

People says I'm a very cool and quiet person in their first impression but later on of course its change to very humorous and talkative person. Actually I will get close and friendly only after get to know about the other party in person. So, don't get me wrong ya.

During my free time, I will usually surf the net to get myself updated and also to blog. Besides that, of course sleep well whenever get time to refresh my mind and body. Sometimes, i do read books such as Reader Digest and some interesting story books like "Run Away Bride" and "You are a fool".

Internet activities will be online shopping, blogging, play online games, surf the latest news and check mails.

Websites that i often visit are my xanga blog website http://www.xanga.com/shlu23 where i 'll update my daily routines. Then, will be my hotmail account website http://www.hotmail,com to check my mails on daily basis. Besides that, Tubetamil website http://www.tubetamil.com where i'll watch online tamil movies. http://www.charmingpieces.blogspot.com/ which is my most favourite online shopping website to buy accessories. Last but not the least, will be http://www.google.com where enable me to find the most informations that i helps me to complete my assignments.

Know more about Jian Qi

Hi~ I’m jian qi tan. Normally, everyone will think that the name of “jian qi” is most likely to be a boy name. Actually, I’m a girl.

My hobbies are reading novels and comics, watching Taiwan dramas and listening music which includes Japanese and Italian.

The top 5 websites that I visits the most and the reasons are as follow:-

1- Normally, I visit this website when i'm doing assignments to get information and articles. www.google.com

2- As a UTAR student, this website is available and needed for me to visit to updated course information. www.wble.utar.edu.my

3- This website was introduced by my ex-housemate for downloading movies. www.verycd.com

4- To share my happiness and memorable moments with my lovely friends by sharing photos. www.friendster.com

5- To share the meaningful e-mails and also to keep in touch with all my fellow friends and my family. www.yahoomail.com


Top 5 internet activities I do consist of searching information, updating studies information, downloading movies, sharing my frequently photo with friends, and chatting with fellow friends and my family.

Know more about Ye Sin

Hello, my name is Wong Ye Sin, nickname Fish. I’m 21 years old and I come from Rantau, a small city in Negeri Sembilan. I'm currently taking an Accounting course in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Sg long. I enjoy reading, especially novel and comics, but I hate reading text books because the content of the book doesn’t interest me. I have always been interested in mathematic and philosophy.

5 top websites that I have often visit are :

a) Cari Forum (http://eforum.cari.com.my/) website is where I get to view other people’s blogs and writing my own blog at the same time.
b) Friendster (http://www.friendster.com/) to receive updates of my friends and upload my photos in it.
c) Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/) to watch videos such as mtv, funny short video and creative advertisements.
d) Google (http://www.google.com/), a very useful search engine for me to find any information that I needs.
e) MSN Hotmail (http://www.hotmail.com/) is a website where I can check my emails and communicate with my friends by exchanging emails.


Top 5 internet activities:
a) Chatting with my friends in MSN and expressing my feelings through blogs.

b) Playing online game such as O2 Jam, Wiwawa, Dynomite and Popcap games.
c) Searching for new songs in the internet as well as the lyrics of the songs.
d) Searching for information that I need using the Google search engine.
e) Downloading new software such as media player, photograph, mozilla firefox from Download.com website.

Know more about Suet ying....

Hi, I’m Suet Ying, an undergraduate student in University of Tunku Abdul Rahman undertaking a degree program for Bachelor of Accounting course. Currently I’m in year three semester one and I’ll be graduating soon in year 2009 May.I communicate with my course mates in English because I do not know how to speak in Mandarin which is the main language being used in my campus.

I live in Ampang and I travel everyday to my campus by car pooling with one of my friend. I enjoy lamb chop very much, love black pepper and cheese and I hate garlic and onions. My favorite sport activities are swimming, playing badminton and jogging.

Besides that, I enjoy going out with bunch of best friends whom I have known since primary school and we are having a night outing almost every month to catch up with each other. I spend most of my free time at home watching television and surfing the internet.

Top 5 websites that I’ve often visit are The Star, BBC, NST, Friendster & Youtube.

Top 5 internet activities includes updating myself with current news in my country through The Star Online and Nst websites as well as news from other nation through BBC website. Besides that, chatting with my friends (almost everyday) through Window Live Messenger and also play online games such as Neopet and Reversi,
Moreover,watch videos and Japanese anime in Youtube and Crunchyroll with my younger sister and check my emails in Gmail and MSN Hotmail.