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On the other hand, South Koreans are required (by law) to use Internet Explorer 8 or earlier for online transactions[0], and they are required to register for m

On the other hand, South Koreans are required (by law) to use Internet Explorer 8 or earlier for online transactions[0], and they are required to register for many (perhaps all) websites with user-generated content using their unique national ID number (sort of the Korean counterpart to a Social Security number)[1]. This is due to a law passed in the late 90s, in the name of security. Perhaps it once worked, but it clearly doesn't today: http://www.zdnet.com/bank-data-of-20-million-customers-leaked-in-south-korea-7000025332/ http://www.zdnet.com/bank-data-of-20-million-customers-leake... They have very extensive censorship of websites - not "just" pornographic, but also those that are "subvserive" or "harmful to minors". In combination with the aforementioned "citizen identity number" law, this has been used to suppress political dissent and/or protest.[2] Much as I wish I could do better than my molasses-esque Time Warner connection at home, I'll savor my freedom in the US to the extent I can. [0] http://www.zdnet.com/south-koreans-use-internet-explorer-its-the-law-7000022827/ http://www.zdnet.com/south-koreans-use-internet-explorer-its... [1] (There are exceptions, and the full realities are a bit more complicated, but it's bad enough that virtually everyone uses some form of Internet Explorer: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/due-to-security-law-south-korea-is-stuck-with-internet-explorer-for-online-shopping/2013/11/03/ffd2528a-3eff-11e3-b028-de922d7a3f47_story.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/due-to-secu...) [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_South_Korea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_South_K...

robbiep 13y ago
Who needs a national id number when you have the NSA?
- yongjik 13y ago
  When you want to buy pretty much anything from a Korean website, you'll need one. (I don't think NSA would help you there.) Not necessarily your own number, it seems. Korean banks really believe in transparency and have repeatedly opened up millions of ID numbers for every hacker to use.
10feet 13y ago
> Internet Explorer 8 or earlier for online transactions This could actually be incredibly safe and a good idea. If you only use IE for banking, and use the other browsers for everything else, you will be a lot more secure than someone who uses Firefox or Chrome for both.
- lstamour 13y ago
  Just a reminder, this /is/ HN. "[using IE8 or earlier] ... incredibly safe and a good idea" -- them's fightin' words. Now, I'm not going to say that diversity isn't a bad thing, but I will say that diversification using older browsers and ActiveX controls where everyone is forced to use the same browser and so is not actually diverse at all ... well, that's where things go south. If most people set their default browser to non-IE and as a consequence are forced to type in their bank's URL directly rather than click a link to get there, fine. If most people choose, unwisely, not to do so, then they're more vulnerable to phishing attacks that additionally might add malware. If most people are required to use Windows, and therefore cannot use Mac or Linux under the current implementations, then again that restriction on diversity is bad for the self-defence of the system as a whole. Finally, what you're really getting at is "use Incognito tabs for banking," as those by default don't load plugins that can sniff or execute on pages nor retain cookies for later CSRF. Sadly, safety is a moving target and browsers and OSes have moved on since late 1990s.
- Joona 13y ago
  >If you only use IE for banking But they don't.
- acchow 13y ago
  Exploits can escape your browser sandbox.

robbiep 13y ago

Who needs a national id number when you have the NSA?

yongjik 13y ago
When you want to buy pretty much anything from a Korean website, you'll need one. (I don't think NSA would help you there.) Not necessarily your own number, it seems. Korean banks really believe in transparency and have repeatedly opened up millions of ID numbers for every hacker to use.

10feet 13y ago

> Internet Explorer 8 or earlier for online transactions This could actually be incredibly safe and a good idea. If you only use IE for banking, and use the other browsers for everything else, you will be a lot more secure than someone who uses Firefox or Chrome for both.

lstamour 13y ago
Just a reminder, this /is/ HN. "[using IE8 or earlier] ... incredibly safe and a good idea" -- them's fightin' words. Now, I'm not going to say that diversity isn't a bad thing, but I will say that diversification using older browsers and ActiveX controls where everyone is forced to use the same browser and so is not actually diverse at all ... well, that's where things go south. If most people set their default browser to non-IE and as a consequence are forced to type in their bank's URL directly rather than click a link to get there, fine. If most people choose, unwisely, not to do so, then they're more vulnerable to phishing attacks that additionally might add malware. If most people are required to use Windows, and therefore cannot use Mac or Linux under the current implementations, then again that restriction on diversity is bad for the self-defence of the system as a whole. Finally, what you're really getting at is "use Incognito tabs for banking," as those by default don't load plugins that can sniff or execute on pages nor retain cookies for later CSRF. Sadly, safety is a moving target and browsers and OSes have moved on since late 1990s.
Joona 13y ago
>If you only use IE for banking But they don't.
acchow 13y ago
Exploits can escape your browser sandbox.