Top 9 Notable Technology Events of February 2022

A draft report from the United Nations revealed that North Korea carried out cyberattacks against the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a major South Korean defense contractor.

The draft, which was reviewed by Japan’s Nikkei Asia on February 7, states that Kimsuky, a hacker group believed to be backed by North Korean intelligence, was responsible for the attacks. Kimsuky is said to have used tactics such as mimicking popular websites and software apps to steal login credentials from victims.

In some cases, the attackers not only collected email addresses of government organizations but also obtained contact information related to security staff at the IAEA. The group is also suspected of attempting to breach the network of Korea Aerospace Industries, one of South Korea's largest defense companies, to steal technological data. The draft further notes that these attackers had infiltrated the network of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in May 2021.

IP addresses associated with the attacks have been linked to Kimsuky. This draft report, compiled by a UN sanctions committee expert panel, is expected to be released in early March after the UN Security Council members review and adjust it. Although this document is not legally binding, it could serve as a basis for the Security Council and member states to consider imposing new sanctions on North Korea.

Recently, engineers from McGill University in Montreal (Canada) revealed that they have developed the concept of a laser-thermal propulsion system that could drastically reduce the time it takes to travel to Mars. Previously, the journey between Earth and Mars was expected to take around 500 days.

The system involves a 10-meter wide laser array from Earth that is aimed into space. A reflective mirror directs the laser beam toward a combustion chamber located behind the spacecraft.

The laser will heat up the chamber filled with hydrogen plasma, generating an incredibly powerful thrust. Emmanuel Duplay, the lead author of the study, explained that once the laser array on Earth ceases its operation, the spacecraft will be moving steadily at 17 km/s. As it enters Mars' orbit, it will still be traveling at 16 km/s. The spacecraft would reach Mars in just 45 days.

At the recent event Define a New Norm, Casper introduced two new models of QLED & OLED TVs, along with a range of home products in a promising tech ecosystem. During the event, Mr. Nguyễn Viết Chung, CEO of Casper Vietnam, shared the company's vision, strategies, and the goal of 'Repositioning Casper'. He stated, 'The launch of the QLED & OLED TV lines with globally standardized quality underscores Casper's commitment to finding effective solutions to commercialize and make high-quality products, excellent services, and advanced technology accessible to Vietnamese consumers.'

The highlight of the event was the new Casper OLED TV series for 2022. Featuring OLED Pixel Self-dimming technology, these new TVs promise stunning visuals with vibrant color details and impressive contrast. Additionally, the sleek minimalist design, only 4.8mm thick – thinner than most smartphones – makes it a perfect fit for any modern home, adding a touch of elegance and luxury to interior spaces.

Alongside the TV launch, Casper also showcased other standout home appliances. All products within the Casper ecosystem aim to elevate user experiences by offering advanced smart technologies at affordable prices.

From February 24 to 26, South Korea's largest drone exhibition, Drone Show Korea 2022, took place in Busan, a major port city in the southeast of the country. The event showcased the latest drone technologies and models while providing a platform for discussing the future of the UAV industry.

Drone Show Korea 2022 was co-hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of National Defense, the city of Busan, the Korea UAV Association, and BEXCO Exhibition Center, with the theme 'Connecting with Drones'.

At the exhibition, Korean Air Lines Co. presented a medium-altitude drone with a 26m wingspan, while defense contractor LIG Nex1 Co. showcased a heavy-lift hydrogen-powered drone capable of carrying up to 200kg of cargo.

Korea Aerospace Industries also demonstrated next-generation transportation technologies, including manned and unmanned aircraft, as well as virtual space solutions. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology displayed its independent UAV platform. Alongside the main exhibition, various events for visitors were held, including drone piloting experiences, an art exhibit featuring drones, and drone-based games.

The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has imposed a ban on 54 Chinese apps, citing concerns that these apps were transferring sensitive data of Indian citizens to servers based in China.

Major app stores, including Google Play, have been instructed to block the download of these apps. Some of the banned apps are owned by major Chinese tech companies like Tencent and Alibaba, including popular names such as: Garena Free Fire, Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade, Beauty Camera, and Viva Video Editor.

Many believe this move stems from the ongoing tensions between the two neighboring countries over a long-standing border dispute. India and China share a 3,488 km-long border along the Himalayas. After a violent clash in 2020, thousands of troops, tanks, and artillery from both sides remain stationed along the border, ready for combat if necessary.

This is not the first time India has taken such action. In 2020, India banned a total of around 224 Chinese apps in three phases. The first phase in June saw 59 popular apps banned, including TikTok, Shareit, WeChat, Helo, Likee, UC News, Bigo Live, UC Browser, ES File Explorer, and Mi Community. The second phase in September led to the removal of 118 apps, and the final phase in November saw 43 more apps banned.

On February 9, 2022, the American space company SpaceX reported that a solar storm had pushed more than 40 of its high-speed internet satellites off course right after their launch. Fortunately, the incident posed no significant threat to Earth as the satellites burned up upon re-entering the atmosphere.

In a statement issued on February 8 (US time), SpaceX confirmed the event, explaining that the solar storm had caused the atmosphere to heat up, which increased its density at the altitude where low-earth orbit satellites are deployed. GPS systems revealed that the intensity of the storm caused the drag in the atmosphere to increase by more than 50% compared to previous launches.

According to the announcement, the 49 latest satellites in SpaceX's Starlink network were launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on February 3. However, due to the timing of the launch coinciding with the solar storm predicted by the US Space Weather Forecast Center, the satellites were affected a day later. In response, the Starlink team put the satellites into safe mode, where they aligned vertically like a piece of paper to minimize drag and optimize their passage through the storm.

On February 20, Truth Social, the new social media platform created by former US President Donald Trump, officially launched on the Apple App Store, marking his return to the social media landscape after being banned from all major platforms.

According to Reuters, the Truth Social app was made available in the US just before midnight on February 20 and automatically downloaded to the devices of users who had pre-registered. Currently, the app is not available in Vietnam, as stated on the App Store when reporters attempted to access the download link for Truth Social.

Some users in the US reported difficulties in signing up for accounts or were placed on a waiting list with the message: "Due to high demand, we've added you to our waiting list." The app's initial version, 1.0, was released on February 19, and it has since been updated to version 1.0.1 after developers fixed some bugs. Devin Nunes, the former Republican congressman and now the head of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), stated that the full features of Truth Social will be rolled out in "the coming weeks." For now, the platform will focus on the US market, where many Apple device users and Trump supporters are located.

Meta has acknowledged the possibility that it may have to shut down Facebook and Instagram in European Union (EU) countries if it is unable to process EU data on servers located within the region.

If this happens, it wouldn't only affect users in Europe, but also severely damage Meta's business operations and the many European companies relying on Facebook and Instagram for advertising and product promotion. Europe is one of Meta's most important markets, generating a yearly profit of $6.8 billion. However, this potential risk is becoming increasingly likely.

Unless a new agreement is reached between the US and Europe, Meta will be forced to delete most of the user data it has collected in Europe. Failing to comply with data collection rules could result in Meta being fined 4% of its annual revenue, approximately $2.8 billion. This would be a major blow to the tech giant, which has billions of users worldwide.

Scientists in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, recently announced the development of AI Nanny, an artificial intelligence capable of monitoring and nurturing embryos as they grow into fetuses in an artificial womb. This technology could enable women to avoid pregnancy altogether, with embryos potentially developing safer and more effectively in artificial environments.

Previously, researchers had to manually monitor and adjust the artificial womb’s functions. However, with AI Nanny, the system uses sensors and cameras to continuously monitor the embryos, providing highly detailed images. The system can adjust the temperature, carbon dioxide levels, water, and nutrients in real-time, and it is also capable of detecting any abnormal or failed embryos to promptly eliminate them.

Chinese researchers believe this system could unravel the mysteries of human embryo development and offer solutions for issues like birth defects or other reproductive health problems, such as premature births. However, it could also spark significant controversy, especially regarding ethical concerns. Many regions worldwide prohibit the study of human embryos older than two weeks. In China, surrogacy is banned, while artificial womb technology essentially turns hospitals into surrogates.