VPSKeys
Encyclopedia
VPSKeys is a freeware
input method editor
developed and distributed by the Vietnamese Professionals Society
(VPS). One of the first input method editors for Vietnamese, it allows users to add accent marks
to Vietnamese text on computers running Microsoft Windows
. The first version of VPSKeys, supporting Windows 3.1, was released in 1993. The most recent version is 4.3, released in October 2007.
, VNI
, and VIQR
input methods, as well as a number of character encoding
s. One of its unique features is a "hook/tilde dictionary" (Tự Điển Hỏi Ngã), which provides spelling suggestion
s for distinguishing words with hỏi or ngã tones. This feature is helpful for speakers of dialects in which these two tones have merged.
and McAfee
announced on their security blogs that they believe that hackers compromised the VPS website and replaced the program with a trojan. The trojan, which McAfee has code-named W32/VulcanBot
, creates a botnet
that could be used to launch distributed denial of service attacks on websites critical of the Vietnamese government's plan to mine bauxite
in the country's Central Highlands
. McAfee suspects that the authors of the trojan have ties to the Vietnamese government. However, Nguyễn Tử Quảng of Bách Khoa Internet Security
(Bkis) called McAfee's accusation "somewhat premature". The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling Google's and McAfee's comments "groundless".
VPS discovered a breach on their website on January 22, 2010 and restored the non-infected software then, but did not publicize it widely because they did not realize the serious nature of the matter.
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
input method editor
Input method
An input method is an operating system component or program that allows any data, such as keyboard strokes or mouse movements, to be received as input. In this way users can enter characters and symbols not found on their input devices...
developed and distributed by the Vietnamese Professionals Society
Vietnamese Professionals Society
The Vietnamese Professionals Society is a non-profit worldwide membership organization of Vietnamese professionals of various technical, economic, medical, legal field. Its mission is to increase the knowledge and understanding of the social and economic conditions in Vietnam, to promote the...
(VPS). One of the first input method editors for Vietnamese, it allows users to add accent marks
Diacritic
A diacritic is a glyph added to a letter, or basic glyph. The term derives from the Greek διακριτικός . Diacritic is both an adjective and a noun, whereas diacritical is only an adjective. Some diacritical marks, such as the acute and grave are often called accents...
to Vietnamese text on computers running Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. The first version of VPSKeys, supporting Windows 3.1, was released in 1993. The most recent version is 4.3, released in October 2007.
Features
VPSKeys supports the TelexTelex (IME)
Telex is a convention for writing Vietnamese using ASCII characters commonly found on computer keyboard layouts. Because the Vietnamese alphabet uses a complex system of diacritical marks, Telex requires the user to type in a base letter, followed by one or two characters that represent the...
, VNI
VNI
VNI Software Company is the Westminster, California–based, family-owned developer of various education, entertainment, office, and utility software packages.-History:...
, and VIQR
Vietnamese Quoted-Readable
Vietnamese Quoted-Readable , also known as Vietnet, is a convention for writing Vietnamese using ASCII characters...
input methods, as well as a number of character encoding
Character encoding
A character encoding system consists of a code that pairs each character from a given repertoire with something else, such as a sequence of natural numbers, octets or electrical pulses, in order to facilitate the transmission of data through telecommunication networks or storage of text in...
s. One of its unique features is a "hook/tilde dictionary" (Tự Điển Hỏi Ngã), which provides spelling suggestion
Spelling suggestion
Spelling suggestion is a feature of hi computer software applications used to suggest plausible replacements for words that are likely to have been misspelled....
s for distinguishing words with hỏi or ngã tones. This feature is helpful for speakers of dialects in which these two tones have merged.
Trojan incident
In March 2010, GoogleGoogle
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
and McAfee
McAfee
McAfee, Inc. is a computer security company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. It markets software and services to home users, businesses and the public sector. On August 19, 2010, electronics company Intel agreed to purchase McAfee for $7.68 billion...
announced on their security blogs that they believe that hackers compromised the VPS website and replaced the program with a trojan. The trojan, which McAfee has code-named W32/VulcanBot
Vulcanbot
Vulcanbot is the name of a botnet predominantly spread in Vietnam. The botnet began to spread after the website of the Vietnamese Professionals Society was hacked and the legitimate Vietnamese keyboard driver hosted on the site was replaced with backdoored version...
, creates a botnet
Botnet
A botnet is a collection of compromised computers connected to the Internet. Termed "bots," they are generally used for malicious purposes. When a computer becomes compromised, it becomes a part of a botnet...
that could be used to launch distributed denial of service attacks on websites critical of the Vietnamese government's plan to mine bauxite
Bauxite
Bauxite is an aluminium ore and is the main source of aluminium. This form of rock consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite Al3, boehmite γ-AlO, and diaspore α-AlO, in a mixture with the two iron oxides goethite and hematite, the clay mineral kaolinite, and small amounts of anatase TiO2...
in the country's Central Highlands
Tây Nguyên
Tây Nguyên, translated as Western Highlands and sometimes also called Central Highlands, is one of the regions of Vietnam. It contains the provinces of Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Lâm Đồng....
. McAfee suspects that the authors of the trojan have ties to the Vietnamese government. However, Nguyễn Tử Quảng of Bách Khoa Internet Security
Hanoi University of Technology
Hanoi University of Science and Technology , founded 1956, is the first and largest technical university in Vietnam.- History :...
(Bkis) called McAfee's accusation "somewhat premature". The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling Google's and McAfee's comments "groundless".
VPS discovered a breach on their website on January 22, 2010 and restored the non-infected software then, but did not publicize it widely because they did not realize the serious nature of the matter.