- Hello everybody, welcome back to the Social Pants Experiment. Today, I want to talk about my run-in with casino security in Singapore. (upbeat rock music) (upbeat rock music continues) So our story begins on the evening myself and friends went to the Marina Bay Sands. You may remember the vlog where we went to the top and had drinks at the bar. Afterwards, we headed to the casino. Now, to set this up properly, you need to understand that Singapore is a city-state known for it's strict rules.
Anthony Bourdain referred to it as Disney Land with a death penalty, and this was referenced to a city-state where prostitution and gambling is legal, but there is zero tolerance for guns or drugs. So a little history. In 2010, Singapore lifted a decades-old ban on gambling and opened two amazing casinos: the Malaysian-own, Resorts World Sentosa, and the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel https://oncasinogames.com/canada/roulette/. Singapore is still a city of rules, however. Their are rules that apply that are designed to reduce addiction and crime thought to surround gambling. For instance, permanent residents of Singapore must pay 100 dollars for a 24 hour pass, just to enter the casino. Foreigners, like me, must have a passport and go through, what feels like, tighter security than entering the country. Family members can have you black-listed at the casino if they feel like you're spending too much time there. Casino operators cannot advertise anywhere locally in Singapore. So, back to our story. We enter the casino through security, cash in hand, ready to have a little bit of fun. Before we got started I thought I would take the opportunity to stroll around this amazing place and get a little B-roll with my GoPro. After all, like so many things in Singapore, the architecture and design of this casino is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. Things were going pretty well, I thought, and then I was approached by casino security. You can imagine how nervous I suddenly became. (guitar riff) Well I ain't superstitious, But a black cat crossed my trail - Apparently, they don't like you filming in the casino. So the way it was explained to me is, this is mainly because they don't want people to be identified on camera, on video, on social media who are at the casino gambling. This could be for various reasons, whether they're local Singaporians, or specifically VIP's, who are in town gambling and don't necessarily want their whereabouts known. Apparently, I slipped up when I was trying to film my friends playing and did not realize, a lot of people were in the frame and really concerned about my camera. Now again, like everything else in Singapore, security was extremely nice, overly friendly, and very accommodating. But, they did go through my camera and have me delete all the footage from the casino. Which I was more than happy to do by the way, and not just because I feared a caning, but it was the right thing to do. All things considered, I felt great about the transaction. I honestly don't recall if there were any signs anywhere that said filming is prohibited. There probably was I just didn't see them. In Vegas for instance, nobody really cares. But make no mistake about it, this is not Las Vegas. So after that I proceeded to spend a couple hours at the blackjack table and ended up walking away with an extra 200 dollars Singapore in my pocket. So in the end, another successful trip to the casino in Singapore. I hope you enjoyed this story, Ill see you tomorrow. (blues-rock music)
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Now, it is important to note, that it is possible that North Korea was framed, with the attackers leaving behind purportedly solid evidence in order to mislead investigators. But, according to the majority of cybersecurity experts, it is almost certain that North Korea was behind the attacks. And, it wasn't just attacks on financial institutions, they were also revealed to be responsible for many cyber terrorism and cyber espionage campaigns against the South Korean government and various South Korean infrastructures. Then there's the Sony Pictures hack of 2014.
One of the biggest corporate breaches in history. Lazarus had taken great exception to the plot of the film 'The Interview', where the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, was targeted for assassination by the CIA. Cinemas across the US were threatened with terrorist attacks if the film wasn't pulled. North Korea, of course, denied any responsibility. But, it seemed fairly obvious that this group was actively targeting known enemies of the State. Now, as for Lazarus' banking exploits, like the Bangladesh incident, the attacks were just the start. They had to ensure the money would then get to the intended location. And, the way they did that was to have the stolen funds moved through places like Macau, which in particular, is known to be North Korea's financial point of contact with the outside world. We know, thanks to the two Chinese middlemen, that that's exactly where the Bangladesh funds ended up. And, from there, it wouldn't have been hard for the money to be wired directly to Pyongyang. Proceeds would then have likely gone towards advancing their nuclear program, funding the lifestyles of the elite, and propping up their economy. All this, quite possibly representing, a significant percentage of the country's current GDP. If this is all accurate, and North Korea is indeed behind these attacks, the international implications would be profound. Especially with the recent developments. As this would be the first known case of a nation state robbing banks. From there, perhaps, anything is possible. They could hack political campaigns, weapons systems, civilian bank accounts, or even YouTube accounts who have made content they may find unfavorable. Oh crap. Actually, that's okay because I have Dashlane. Dashlane makes keeping track of all your passwords ridiculously easy. Not only is it gonna prevent North Korea from spying on you, yeah you, because that's likely to happen. But it'll store all your passwords in one super-secure place, and auto fill them on websites you go to. If you have the same password everywhere, but are too lazy to go to each individual website to change your passwords, well, not a problem. Because you can just click one button on the Dashlane app, and it does it for you. Dashlane also has a password generator, so you don't have to spend time thinking up super strong passwords like this one. By going to dashlane.com/kentobento, you can get started for free. And, if you want some extra special features like syncing your passwords and login details between all your devices like IOS, Android, Mac, and Windows, you can upgrade for 10% off by using the promo code KENTOBENTO at checkout. These suspicions were soon reaffirmed, and ultimately it turned out, no surprise, that this Shalika Fandation was indeed a fake company. The money was then rerouted back to the Bangladesh Bank's New York account. Then there were four, $81 million dollars. But, we won't drag this out because these four were all sent not just to the same country, not just to the same bank, but to the same branch. The Jupiter Street branch of the RCBC Bank, just outside Manila, in the Philippines. Four accounts had laid dormant for nine months with just $500 inside, untouched.
Until a sudden cash infusion of $81 million. These sudden bursts should've triggered an alert from RCBC but for whatever reason, it slid under the radar. And, indeed, the accounts were later found to be under fictitious identities. From there, the money was quickly withdrawn and laundered through casinos. Where the electronic money transfers were converted to hard untraceable cash. The Bangladesh Bank did try to stop the transfers, but timing was just not on their side. The stop order was not received by RCBC Bank on the expected Monday, because Monday was Chinese New Year. A non-working holiday in the Philippines. By now you're probably noticing a trend here. Every step of the way there were delays that benefited the hackers. And, this was by design. A remarkably well timed attack. On Thursday evening they entered the system at the start of the Bangladesh weekend when the bank is closing. On Friday, the New York Fed tries to clarify the requests with Bangladesh, but no one's there. On Sunday, Bangladesh staff return from the weekend but can't get through to New York as it's now the weekend in the US. On Monday, the Fed finally gets the orders to stop the transfers, but not the Philippines because it just so happened to be Chinese New Year there. And, only on Tuesday, five days after the heist, that RCBC staff find out about the fraudulent transfers. But, by then it was too late. Now, two Chinese men, Ding and Gao, were eventually found to be responsible for setting up the fake RCBC accounts in the Philippines. They turned out to be just middlemen. But, they were still a crucial part of the operation. And, investigators hoped questioning them would lead to the true culprits. Unfortunately, before the Bangladesh authorities were able to apprehend them, they left the country, Boarding flights to Macau, a special administrative region of China where it was then impossible to track them. And so, with the remaining four transfers, the hackers were able to net $81 million. Not quite the original sum, but still enough, by some metrics, to be considered the single biggest bank heist in history. Now, despite the attackers best efforts at removing evidence from the bank's systems, cybersecurity experts were still able to analyze the malware. What they found were similarities in the techniques and tools used between the Bangladesh Bank heist and many other cyber attacks on financial institutions around the world. Which means that, this one particular group had very likely been responsible for a series of global attacks. This group was dubbed Lazarus. But, there was more. As experts dug deeper, combing through the server logs of recent attacks, they found something even more unexpected. An IP address connecting Lazarus to a particular nation state. For a brief moment they had failed to cover their tracks. And the logs had indicated that the attack servers they used had been accessed at least once from a North Korean IP address. There was also Korean language found embedded in the computer code. . Giving of executive presents is always a good idea in business as it aims to build and fortify the business relationship of a company with its valued customers. And while there is no actual trading of cash in the act, it still manages to help the company survive the very aggressive market in a way more than a traded merchandise or service can. Essay writers online will help you.
Given either as thank-you tokens for the existing clients or as welcome presents for potential and new consumers, corporate presents let clients know that they are truly valued by the company. Also, the gifts act as an acknowledgment of their involvement and presence in the success of the business. Not only does a corporate gift solidify the company bonds with its clients, it also serves as a tool to produce brand awareness. With its logo and name printed on the items, the business keeps its importance with the customers, making an impression that the business is a dominant force in the industry. customers may see the gifts as souvenirs that remind them of the merchandise and services the firm gives. But it is not enough to simply give away corporate presents. The item should have a use in the everyday life of a client. Forget about giving them hand gloves when they live in somewhere hot or a hand fan when they are situated someplace cold. The presents will just either be disposed or kept hidden and eventually forgotten. Companies need corporate gifts that can worm their way into the customers’ lives. Everyday things like mugs, diaries, paper weights, ballpoint pens, and fridge magnets are some of the things consumers commonly use. They may already own one or two pens on their desks, but receiving one more wouldn’t hurt, especially if it’s free of charge. That is exactly what the company that gives away the pen wants to do. It wants customers to keep the pen and use it so they will be reminded of their products every time they see the pen. Initially, corporate presents seem unnecessary and just an added cost for the firm. But they have a lot of advantages. They help the firm obtain the allegiance and trust of the customers and create brand awareness and recognition. Also, they develop goodwill relationship between the firm and the clients, which is something every business needs. You have extra time on your schedule and your children are also taking a break from school. You should grab this opportunity to spend quality time with your loved ones. So that the kids can also enjoy their time off, you can play online casino in another country. It does not really matter which destination you choose as long as your little ones appreciate the place as much as you do. Here are some of the places you can visit with your family:
1. Scotland Even in this day and age, there are still boys hoping to become knights. There are also little girls dreaming to become princesses. You can give them a taste of this experience by visiting ancient castles and fortresses spread out in this country. If your sons and daughters are up for some mystery and adventure, you can also head to Loch Ness to find out if there truly is a mythical sea creature lurking beneath the waters. 2. Hawaii Bring your family to long and sandy beaches. Your kids will surely enjoy creating sand castles or simply swimming the coastline. There are also exciting activities for the grownups. The country is also well-known for its massive waves. For this reason, you can surf these currents to your heart’s content. Additionally, this destination has a number of exotic diving spots. 3. Australia By far, this country has one of the most diverse geographical landscapes on the planet. If you are looking forward to swimming along pristine beaches, you can visit any of the Gold Coast attractions located in the state of Queensland. If you prefer exploring rough and remote terrain, you and your kids can enjoy camping out in the wide Australian Outback. Once you have decided to travel to any of these places, make sure to plan activities which are not only fun but also safe for your children. You should stick to those that they can easily learn on their own. Of course, during your holiday, you should do pursuits together as a family so that you get to spend quality time with one another. Not to mention, you get to create lots of fun and exciting memories. Important Notes for a Hassle-Free Trip to the Land Down Under The UK has thousands of beautiful destinations and attractions such as the majestic castles in Scotland (e.g. Aldourie Castle, Ackergill Tower, and Edinburgh Castle). But if you want to travel abroad, one of the most stunning places to visit is the “Land Down Under.” As of late, many Britons are already aware of the nation’s beauty. In fact, they make up a huge percentage of the great number of tourists traveling to “Oz”, especially in its world famous destinations, like Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne. Of course, these places provide Brit holidaymakers with rewarding holiday experiences. If you have not visited the country yet, and you are dying to find out what makes it appealing to millions of other tourists, read the information on this page for basic travel insights.
Indeed, it is important that you obtain general insights about your destination before travelling since it helps you avoid possible mishaps. Furthermore, it lets you enjoy your holiday more, especially if you are already aware of the best attractions or the most enjoyable activities. If you are looking for the ideal tour vacation in the United Kingdom, then you have come to the right place. This article provides exclusive information on UK accommodation, activities and travel attractions.
With the exciting combination of urban life and lonesome country sides, traditions of olden days and futuristic lifestyle, exquisite beaches and jagged mountains, England is in fact a place high on diversity. And when it is about experiencing the cultural attractions and the incredible nightlife, England rocks and is booming as good as ever. Without doubt, this is one of the few places that tourists from all over the world consider as their favorite. With its number of residents adding up to over several million; it is not only Europe's biggest city, it is also the capital of UK and the main seat of the country's political events, trade, showbiz, and entertainment. Along the coastline and within the southeast of England, you will spot the famous historical place named Canterbury. You experience a different class of tourism here, as it is the famed diocese of the legendary Thomas Becket. This is also the wealthiest region of the nation. This wealth is mainly attributed to the Canterbury’s nearness to the capital and the rich agricultural lands. England’s southwest part mostly comprises of rocky highlands of Devon and Cornwall’s rugged sea shore. Yet another in-style tourist attraction is Salisbury. It is also a place which is considered as the spot where the West Country begins. However, the highlight here is mainly the grandiose church towers. By the New Stone Age, as evident from the memorials such as Avebury and Stonehenge, an affluent and commanding civilization developed in this area. All these are good reasons for why you should not miss visiting these places. Coming to the western part of England, the chief metropolitan tourist spot here is Bristol; however, Exeter and Bath are also quite good for an exciting go round. If you reach your destination at the hub of United Kingdom, the most important places to stop over are the ancient cities famous for education. This is none other than the famed cities of Cambridge and Oxford. And if you are a Shakespeare fanatic, you should also visit the historical Stratford upon Avon - which is in fact the actual birthplace of William Shakespeare. Another place of interest often missed by tourists in this region is Norwich, which is well known for its good looking East Anglia flat lands. Take a trip to the north of England and you can experience the lively industrialized cities like Newcastle, Liverpool, and Manchester. Durham and York offer fine chronological resources in this region; on the other hand, the best part is the fine-looking landscape, particularly the dales of Yorkshire and the moorlands of the Lake District. If you enjoy escaping to the country, eating haggis and tossing the caber a Scotland Holiday is ideal for you and your family. From short trips to long stays, Scotland Holiday Cottages has the ideal getaway for you. |
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December 2018
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