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Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Iranians welcome ceasefire but fearful for future
People walk next to a mural with a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on a street, early hours of ceasefire, in Tehran, Iran, June 24, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS DUBAI - After 12 days of Israeli airstrikes that echoed in cities around the country, killing hundreds and sending waves of people fleeing their homes, Iranians voiced relief on Tuesday at the surprise overnight announcement of a ceasefire. For those in the Iranian capital it brought the prospect of a clean-up, a return to normal life and the soothing - for now at least - of anxiety about a further escalation and sustained warfare. Many Iranians who fled the strikes were also glad, able to return home after tiring, expensive stays outside the city in rented accommodation or with relatives. "I am overjoyed. It is over and we finally can live in peace. It was an unnecessary war and we people paid the price for the authorities' war-mongering policies," said Shima, 40, from Shiraz, withholding her name for fear of reprisals. Just 24 hours earlier, plumes of smoke hung over parts of the capital as Israel targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and its paramilitary Basij militia, as well as Evin prison at the foot of the Alborz Mountains. One man in a busy Tehran street, who also asked to remain anonymous, said "It's the people who are paying the price - whether our people or theirs. Both sides are bearing the cost so it's better that this happened sooner rather than later." Israel has repeatedly warned residents to leave large swathes of the city before it conducted airstrikes, clogging the highways out of Tehran with vast traffic jams. Exhausted and running out of cash, many of them had started to return home even before the ceasefire was announced. Arash, a 39-year-old government employee, had taken his family to Damavand, a mountain resort 35 miles east of Tehran that is popular for its clean air and bucolic setting. They returned to Tehran two days ago. "My wife and two children were terrified of the bombings but renting even a modest room in Damavand for any length of time is beyond my limited budget," he said. Noushin, 35, drove almost five hours with her husband and child to stay with her mother-in-law in Sari, near Iran's Caspian coast. But the house was already crowded with relatives seeking shelter and Noushin decided they were better off at home. "My child misses her room. I miss my house. How long can we live like this?" she asked. "Even if there's another attack, I'd rather die in my own home." NO SIGNS OF PROTESTS Israel launched its surprise air war on June 13, hitting nuclear sites and killing military commanders in the worst blow to Iran since Iraq invaded in 1980, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes could result in regime change. However, there have been no signs of significant street protests against the Islamic Republic. Iranians contacted by Reuters, including some who oppose the Islamic Republic and have protested against it in the past, said the airstrikes had brought people to rally around national feeling in the face of what they saw as foreign aggression. Still, for many Iranians there is anger at the top ranks of the nation's leadership, and for those returning home the reality of a sanctions-hit economy remains. "This is unacceptable. This is brutal. Why are we being attacked while the officials hide in safe places?' said Mohammad, 63, from Rasht. "I place the blame on this country's decision-makers. Their policies have brought war and destruction upon us," he said by phone. While Israel has repeatedly targeted both leaders and facilities of the internal security forces under the IRGC, state media has announced hundreds of arrests of people accused of spying. Black security vehicles were seen on the streets of Tehran on Tuesday and dissidents expressed fear of a coming crackdown by the authorities to ward off any attempt at mass protests. Accusations of ceasefire violations on Tuesday also raised fears that the war could reignite. "I hope they (the Israelis) remain committed to the ceasefire. History has shown that they've never truly honoured it, but I still hope this time they do — because it's in our interest and theirs as well," said one man on a Tehran street. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Straits Times
25-04-2025
- New Straits Times
Not all QR codes are safe, Kaspersky warns
SINGAPORE: The usage of quick response (QR) codes among Malaysians has become the new normal — from banking services and exchanging contacts to ordering food. However, with the rise in QR code usage, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has cautioned Malaysians to remain vigilant against a growing threat: QR scams. According to Kaspersky's lead security researcher Noushin Shabab, QR scams are a new form of cyber threat in which attackers generate malicious QR codes that compromise users' cyber safety. "QR scams happen when a code is turned into a malicious one, potentially stealing users' information or money, or causing other complications that jeopardise their safety. "With increased usage of QR codes in Malaysia, more attackers are seeing this as an opportunity to exploit," she said in an interview with Bernama at GITEX Asia 2025, Marina Bay Sands today. According to the DataReportal Digital 2025 Global Overview Report, Malaysia ranks second after China in QR code usage, with 66.1 per cent of the population actively using them. Noushin explained that QR scams often involve attackers replacing legitimate QR codes in public places with malicious ones, tricking unsuspecting users into scanning them. "These malicious QR codes are usually placed over original ones on billboards or posters and redirect victims to an attacker's website," she said. Meanwhile, Kaspersky's security evangelist Oleg Gorobets said users can protect themselves by installing certified security software on their phones that can detect suspicious activity, including malicious QR codes. "Attackers use different algorithms to mimic the original website's structure, redirecting users to a fake one. A good security solution will detect and block this threat," he said. Additionally, Noushin advised users to take extra precautions when scanning QR codes in public spaces and to always verify the source. "For example, if there's a random QR sticker on a billboard or wall — that's not safe. "Or if someone you just met offers a QR code to connect with them — that's also a red flag. Know the source. Ask where it came from, why it's there, and what it leads to before scanning," she said. Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department recently reported 12,110 cases of online fraud or scams nationwide in the first quarter of 2025, involving RM573.7 million in losses versus 10,715 cases valued at RM519.9 million in October-December 2024. – Bernama
