I am a big horror movie junkie, but recently I realised some of the scariest stories do not happen on screen.

Stories about hacked cameras, compromised WiFi networks, and online scams from the news and my colleagues made me realise a home network can be vulnerable in ways I had never considered.

Unknown devices on WiFi

Case in point, when my colleague moved into her new home a few years ago and thought she had everything sorted out, including her WiFi. After some time, she noticed her internet was slowing down every night.

"I live alone and don't have many devices. So eventually, it started to feel a bit suspicious," she recalled.

When she finally checked her home network dashboard, she discovered several unfamiliar devices logged in.

While she wasn't sure who had gained access, the experience left her deeply unsettled.

"I felt quite stupid afterwards," she admitted.

Yet, having unknown devices access your WiFi is not the worst that can happen.

Somebody is watching from inside

Many of us install smart cameras for peace of mind: to keep an eye on our elderly parents, pets, or to monitor our homes while travelling.

But what happens when these security devices do the exact opposite?

In 2020, footage from hacked home cameras in Singapore surfaced online.

More recently, in 2025, South Korean police arrested four people accused of hacking more than 120,000 video cameras in homes and businesses to create exploitative content for an overseas website, the BBC reported.

Imagine installing a camera to protect your family, only to discover strangers are watching inside your home.

Weak security settings can quickly turn a protective device into a massive privacy risk.

Infected devices hidden in plain sight

Security cameras are not the only devices that can get compromised, however.

In 2025, Singapore authorities uncovered more than 1,000 infected devices linked to a global botnet operation, according to CNA.

A botnet is a network or collection of malware-infected internet-connected devices that are remotely controlled by a hacker.

Once in control of the device, hackers will use it to carry out tasks such as sending spam emails, generating fake internet traffic, and assisting in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to shut down websites.

The terrifying part? Many owners had no idea their devices, such as baby monitors and routers, were compromised.

Their gadgets appeared to function perfectly normally while secretly being used to launch cyberattacks on others.

In 2024, Chinese national Yunhe Wang was arrested in Singapore for allegedly helping to operate one of the world's largest botnets, 911 S5.

Authorities said the 911 S5 botnet infected more than 19 million computers through malware hidden in pirated software, allowing cybercriminals to purchase access to the compromised devices for fraud and other cybercrimes.

Many victims unknowingly infected their own computers simply by downloading what appeared to be legitimate files.

Scams don't discriminate

There is a common myth that scams only happen to the elderly or those who aren't tech-savvy.

But in December 2025, a 44-year-old Singaporean investor who spent years professionally evaluating digital products lost S$100,000 in just 24 hours after downloading what looked like a legitimate game launcher.

If someone with years of technical experience can be deceived, it is easy to see how convincing these scams can be for anyone, including our loved ones.

While I worry about getting caught out myself, I worry more about an older family member clicking a convincing link before realising something is wrong, such as the links in this fake SingPost delivery scam.

Don’t leave the door to your network open

As our homes become more connected and more malicious actors take advantage of our internet usage, broadband is no longer just about ensuring you have a safe password and modern router settings.

Now that our broadband has also become the first line of defence for so many essential items in our household, choosing a network and set-up with multiple safeguards on both the device and network level has now become a necessity.

Instead of leaving security to chance and just focusing solely on price and speed, it's important to first consider the level of protection offered when choosing our broadband plan or network provider.

For Singtel, My Smart Network is more than just about delivering a better connection.

It also encompasses a suite of intelligent network capabilities, tools and apps to protect a customer against evolving threats, including blocking millions of scam calls and SMS messages every month.

This is just one layer of protection, however.

At home, customers will have access to Singtel Broadband, which offers additional security features to help keep your connected devices and family safer online.

Preventing unknown devices from accessing your WiFi

Highest level of certification for Singtel routers

Currently, all of Singtel’s routers, such as newer hardware like the WiFi 7 router, come with the highest 4-star Cyber Security Agency of Singapore’s (CSA) certification.

This means the router has gone through robust security testing and features automatic password randomisation and advanced encryption right out of the box.

Such routers will also have automatic firmware updates and end-to-end network management to patch vulnerabilities in the background.

Currently, WiFi routers sold in Singapore only need to meet the minimum CSA 1-star certified rating, with the requirement set to increase to 2-stars from 2027.

Security to block access to harmful sites and downloads

Beyond routers, Singtel’s Broadband Protect adds network-level layers to block malicious sites and suspicious activity across every single device in the house.

Customers of Singtel’s broadband plans are also able to choose if they wish to upgrade to Broadband Protect Plus for more security features.

Broadband Protect Plus includes a Threat Summary Report and an Auto Blocker that can identify malicious websites and harmful downloads before they reach users' devices.

It also includes Zero Day Protection, which provides an additional layer of security that continuously checks against a cloud network database and other intelligence to stop both known and unknown threats in real time

The new Broadband Protect Plus builds on Singtel’s Broadband Protect option and starts from just S$6.90 per month.

Plans to suit every household

Of course, security is only one part of the equation; you'll also want a plan that matches how your household uses the internet.

Singtel offers WiFi 7 broadband plans in 5Gbps and 10Gbps options to suit different household needs and internet usage.

Regardless of the plan’s speed, each plan comes with built-in security and is inclusive of a 4-star CSA-certified router and 12 months of complimentary Broadband Protect.

On top of that, Singtel offers complimentary one-month security add-ons for McAfee Triple Protect, which gives you added device security in and out of the home against malware, ransomware and scams.

Singtel will also offer the Qustodio Parental Control app under the same terms, which grants you peace of mind while giving your kids the freedom to surf, play and interact online.

The plans also include seven subscriptions, such as six months of HBO Max Standard, one month of Amazon Prime and three months of Microsoft 365 Personal.

The 5Gbps plans, which start from S$39.90 per month, use the Singtel Wi-Fi 7 HB611 Router and are perfect for families that do lighter browsing or everyday streaming.

The 10Gbps plans, which start from S$49.90 per month, use the TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 HB810 Router, which is great for multiple simultaneous high-bandwidth activities, including 4K or 8K streaming, uploading and downloading large files, online gaming, or even heavy-duty work-from-home activities.

For more information on finding the right secure setup for your home, check out Singtel’s broadband catalogue here.

This sponsored article by Singtel made this writer immediately check her family’s broadband security settings.

An Australian woman has been charged with domestic violence murder following the "horrific" death of her four-year-old son in New South Wales (NSW).

The 32-year-old mother turned herself in to NSW police on Jul. 4 and allegedly told them she had eaten part of her son, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

She was subsequently denied bail.

Following her confession, police discovered the body of the four-year-old child inside a residential unit, noting that the body had sustained significant arm injuries.

Investigation

Police sources confirmed to the ABC that claims of cannibalism will form part of the investigation into the boy's death.

Speaking at a press conference, police superintendent Chad Gillies described the incident as "an extremely confronting scene", even for the most experienced police and emergency personnel who attended.

Gillies said police formed “genuine concerns” through conversations they had with her, triggering a welfare check at the unit which led to the boy's discovery.

Investigators are currently looking into whether the boy had been dead before police were alerted,  9News reported.

An autopsy will be conducted by the coroner in the coming days to determine the official cause of death.

Investigators were also granted approval to perform a forensic procedure on the suspect, allowing them to collect a buccal swab, blood samples, and fingernail clippings, as well as examine her mouth contents for forensic material.

Community reaction

Neighbours stated they had never witnessed any untoward behaviour between the mother and son, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The pair had reportedly moved into the rental property earlier this year.

A neighbour alleged that the relocation followed a domestic violence dispute between the woman and an ex-partner.

"Whenever a child is a victim of violent crime, and whenever a child is murdered, it strikes at the core of community," Gillies said.

He emphasised the importance of working through the case methodically to understand exactly what happened for the sake of the victim.

Independent review

Following the incident, Minister Kate Washington announced that the NSW Department of Communities and Justice would conduct an independent review into the boy's death, ABC reported.

Washington confirmed that the department had "previous contact with the family" and is currently reviewing all related records.

She stated that the department had received and responded to multiple reports concerning the family, with the most recent report made 18 months ago.

"There are many people across New South Wales today who are asking how this has happened, and whether or not more could have been done to protect this child."

Washington added that she expects a thorough and timely report by the end of the year, ensuring it does not prejudice the ongoing criminal proceedings.

The case is scheduled to return to court in September.

Stephanie Tan has left Progress Singapore Party (PSP), she announced on her social media on Jul. 6.

The general election candidate expressed hopes to continue contributing to Singapore, but stated "it will no longer be through PSP due to differences in opinion in the direction of the party".

Her journey with PSP

A law graduate from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Tan previously served as a legal counsel to the Ministry of Defence before putting her career on pause to become a full-time homemaker and caregiver to her two children.

In August 2023, she joined PSP as a volunteer, with a goal to "contribute to greater vibrancy and discussions on important issues which matter to Singaporeans".

She contested in the 2025 general election at Pioneer SMC, where she gained 34.58 per cent of the vote.

She lost to the People's Action Party's (PAP) Patrick Tay.

In July 2025, she was selected to join PSP's central executive committee.

She wrote on Instagram at the time that she sought to represent the views and concerns of the younger generation in the formulation of the party’s long-term direction via the role.

Gratitude

In her Jul. 6 post, Tan called her journey with the PSP a "fulfilling" one.

She expressed "utmost gratitude to every PSP volunteer and member" who guided her over the past three years.

Looking ahead, she shared that she will be taking some time to evaluate her next steps.

"It is important to me that I remain true to my original purpose and I’m excited to find out what lies ahead," she added.

UPDATE on Jul. 7 at 7:39pm: This article has been updated following more information from the Singapore Police Force.

One person, a 73-year-old elderly woman, was conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital following an accident near a pedestrian crossing located along Lorong 6 Toa Payoh on the morning of Jul. 7.

Damaged PMD seen nearby

An eyewitness told Mothership the ambulance arrived at about the same time they chanced upon the accident scene.

A person was seen lying on the ground in the middle of the road.

A damaged personal mobility device could be seen nearby.

The eyewitness later saw paramedics attending to the person lying on the ground.

According to the eyewitness, the driver of a nearby lorry was also at the scene.

The eyewitness surmised that the lorry and its driver were involved in the accident.

Elderly woman sent flying from collision

A driver who witnessed the accident, Lim (transliteration), told Shin Min Daily News that the traffic light had been red for about 10 seconds at the time.

However, a lorry ran the red light and zipped past the junction.

A nearby car wash attendant told Shin Min that the resulting collision sent an elderly woman flying.

The rear wheel of her PMA was also sent airborne.

Driver appeared terrified

Lim also shared with Shin Min that the lorry driver stopped the vehicle about 100 metres away.

He did not alight immediately, and only did so when members of the public asked him to.

The car wash attendant shared that the driver looked to be in his 20s.

When he alighted, he looked terrified and had tears in his eyes.

The driver was seen being taken away in a police car, according to Shin Min.

One person conveyed to hospital

Responding to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that it was alerted to the road traffic accident along Lorong 6 Toa Payoh at 10:15am.

It conveyed one person to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Singapore is looking to impose stiffer penalties for dangerous driving and careless driving causing grievous hurt.

This was announced during first reading of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill in parliament on Jul. 7 by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the current maximum penalties for dangerous and careless driving causing grievous hurt are significantly less harsh than those for causing death.

These make the current penalties inadequate for the most serious cases of grievous hurt, which can result in "profound and catastrophic consequences" like traumatic brain injuries, which can leave victims permanently bedbound.

Dangerous driving refers to driving in manner that is objectively dangerous and shows disregard for the safety of others.

Careless driving refers to driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users.

Current law

Under the current law, a first-time offender convicted of dangerous driving causing grievous hurt faces a maximum of five years in jail.

In comparison, a first-time offender convicted of dangerous driving causing death faces up to eight years' imprisonment.

To address this gap, MHA is looking to increase the maximum penalties for dangerous and careless driving causing grievous hurt, bringing them closer to those for offences resulting in death.

Changes made

First-time offenders convicted of dangerous driving causing grievous hurt will face up to seven years in jail, up from a maximum of five years.

Repeat offenders now face up to 10 years in jail, but amendments introduced will increase the imprisonment term to 13 years.

There will be no change to the maximum penalties for first-time and repeat offenders for careless driving as the penalties are already aligned with those for causing death.

However, the bill will increase the additional uplifts imposed on serious and repeat serious offenders convicted of dangerous or careless driving causing grievous hurt.

A serious offender refers to a motorist who commits dangerous or careless driving while drink-driving.

The maximum uplift for serious offenders will be raised from a year to 18 months, while that of repeat serious offenders will be raised from two years to three years and six months.

A woman, 49, has been arrested in Japan for allegedly sewing together the lips of her roommate, a 42-year-old woman, using a thread and needle.

The victim only managed to seek help when she ran to a nearby store and showed the store employee a piece of paper with the words, "Help me".

According to Japanese news portal News on Japan, the incident took place in Koga, a Japanese city which is about an hour's drive north of Tokyo.

The suspect, Masae Sakurai, is supposedly a part-time worker.

She is suspected of sewing together the lips of her 42-year-old roommate several times at about 1:30pm on Jun. 29.

The victim told local police that she was unable to flee immediately as she was afraid of Sakurai.

The woman had apparently been living in Sakurai's home since April 2025.

Police did not disclose the extent of the woman's injuries, but said her life was not in danger, News on Japan wrote.

A nearby resident shared that Sakurai had little contact with neighbours and expressed surprise at the incident.

Local police investigations are ongoing.

The Singaporean man who started a fire in his unit that sent 10 people to the hospital has been ordered by the court to undergo mandatory treatment for two years.

Liu Zheyuan, 44, was suffering from a delusional disorder at the time, and thought his upstairs neighbour was attacking him.

On Jun. 22, he pleaded guilty and was convicted of committing mischief by fire.

Following a report assessing his suitability, the court issued a mandatory treatment order to Liu on Jul. 6, with immediate effect.

Over the two years of mandatory treatment, Liu is required to attend progress reviews when directed to do so by the supervising agency or by the court.

Delusions

For the past two years, Liu had believed that his upstairs neighbour was intentionally shooting laser beams and sending strong currents through his ceiling to disturb him.

On the night of the fire, Liu believed that such attacks were happening again.

This reportedly caused pain in his head and ears, leading him to burn charcoal in an attempt to ward off the attack.

The fire

According to charge sheets, Liu burned a pot of charcoal in the living room of his home at Block 14 Joo Seng Road on May 4 at about 9:40pm on May 4.

It started a fire that "engulfed the whole unit", the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said.

The court heard that Liu attempted to extinguish the fire in panic, but failed to do so.

He then called the SCDF for help and informed his neighbours to evacuate the premises.

When the SCDF arrived, they assessed eight people for smoke inhalation and conveyed them to the hospital.

Among these people were Liu's elderly parents, who were living in the same unit with him, according to The Straits Times.

Two firefighters felt unwell while putting out the blaze and were sent to the hospital too as a precaution. Both were discharged the next day.

As a result of the fire, the Jalan Besar Town Council said a common area was damaged, and estimated repairs would cost about S$80,000 to S$100,000.

Medical assessment

While he was remanded at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) after his arrest, Liu was assessed to be suffering from a delusional disorder at the time of the incident.

His condition was found to be moderate in severity, given his fixation and the distress experienced from the perceived disturbances.

Though there was a minor contributory link between his psychiatric condition and the offence, Liu was said to be not of unsound mind at the time.

The Singapore government said it is prepared to relook the language guidelines under the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), possibly expanding the space for dialects, while continuing to uphold the importance of Mandarin.

Speak Mandarin Campaign

The interest and issues surrounding the Teochew dialect film "Dear You" were addressed in parliament on Jul. 7.

In response to questions raised by Member of Parliament (MP) Cai Yinzhou and Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Eileen Chong Pei Shan, Acting Minister for Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth David Neo said the campaign was introduced to promote a common language among Singapore's Chinese community.

The Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP and NCMP had raised questions regarding the relevance and effectiveness of the Speak Mandarin Campaign.

Neo said the long-standing campaign has enabled Chinese Singaporeans from different dialect backgrounds to communicate more easily, while preserving access to Chinese culture through a shared language rather than separate dialects.

It also gives the country's bilingual policy the best chance to succeed, he added.

Neo said the Promote Mandarin Council regularly reviews the campaign to ensure its messaging and objectives remain relevant in Singapore's multicultural society.

However, he noted that as more families in Singapore are using English at home, there may be fewer opportunities for younger generations to develop their proficiency in Mandarin.

"Hence, the campaign has evolved from promoting Mandarin as a common language, to strengthening the appreciation for our Singapore Chinese cultural identity and making the learning of Mandarin fun and enjoyable," he said.

Neo further added that the government increasingly views dialect artistic materials not as competing with Mandarin, but as part of Singapore's cultural heritage.

"We will continue to take in feedback and will work with the community to consider carefully what further steps are appropriate to support and to promote our distinctive Singapore Chinese culture within our multicultural society," he said.

More screenings of "Dear You" approved

Separately, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How addressed questions on IMDA's decision to require a Mandarin-dubbed version of "Dear You" for most commercial cinema screenings.

IMDA's language guidelines support the government's longstanding policy of promoting Mandarin as one of Singapore's four official languages, Tan said, adding that they have "generally served us well".

However, he acknowledged that Singapore's language environment has evolved, and said IMDA has adopted a more flexible approach in implementing the guidelines by allowing more dialect content in films.

About 30 to 40 dialect-language films are screened at local film festivals each year, he said, adding that IMDA has also permitted unrestricted screenings of films with substantial dialect dialogue, such as "881", "Long Long Time Ago" and "Wonderland".

Tan said IMDA has not only approved a total of 272 screenings of the original Teochew version of "Dear You", but is also prepared to authorise additional screenings if distributors request them in response to audience demand.

He noted that several MPs had called for the guidelines themselves to be reviewed.

"We recognise that the circumstances have changed since the guidelines were first introduced," he said. "There is therefore scope to consider how we can expand the space for dialects, while continuing to uphold the importance of Mandarin."

He added that any review would also consider differences across media platforms.

There are no dialect restrictions for arts performances or content on the internet and online streaming services, he said.

The government believes that Mandarin should continue to be the mainstay on free-to-air television and radio, he added.

At the same time, he said IMDA is prepared to allow more screenings of dialect-language films to give audiences greater access to such content.

"We appreciate the feedback from members and will carefully consider what further steps are appropriate," Tan said.

A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to 22 years' jail with 24 strokes of the cane for violently raping a 13-year-old girl and suggesting she prostituted herself for money.

The sexual nature of the pair's relationship included other forms of violence, including him burning the girl with cigarettes, cutting her with a metal key and slapping her.

According to court documents, the accused, Foong Yong, faced 20 charges in total for offences in the sexual nature.

He pleaded guilty to six charges of statutory rape, The Straits Times reported. Another 14 charges for other sexual offences were taken into account during sentencing.

Underage victim

Court documents seen by Mothership stated that Foong and the victim became acquainted on May. 19, 2023 via online video conferencing platform Omegle.

The girl cannot be named due to a gag order protecting her identity.

Foong, then 25, asked the victim if she was interested to have sex with him despite knowing she was 13 years old, to which she agreed.

The pair then shifted their conversation to Telegram where Foong asked her to send him naked pictures of herself.

In exchange, he sent her nude pictures of his genitals.

They then agreed to meet at Foong's house later that day.

"Forceful" sex

There, Foong and the girl engaged in various forms of sexual acts, including using a vibrator and handcuffs.

At one point, he slapped her multiple times and asked if she liked it, to which she did not reply out of shock.

Foong then had "forceful" sex with her without a condom.

After he was done, the victim washed up in the toilet and left the unit.

Around noon on May 20, 2023, the pair met in the vicinity of Boon Keng MRT.

Just as they were about to reach Foong's house, his mother called and said she would be home soon.

Foong and the victim headed to a staircase landing nearby instead, where he raped her again without a condom.

He began to smoke midway and burnt the victim's buttocks with his lit cigarette butt twice, saying that he would treat her as his "ashtray".

The action left white burn marks on the victim's skin, court documents noted.

Foong also choked the victim, causing her to become light-headed and be unable to stand properly.

They then returned to his house where the engaged in further sex acts.

Encouraged her to prostitute herself

On the same day, Foong told the victim that he had no money and asked to borrow S$200 to S$300 from her.

He also encouraged her to have sex with other men for money by telling her she "would be losing out" to others who did the same.

He added that she could charge more for men who refused to use a condom.

After the victim agreed, Foong gave her a list that detailed how much she should charge others in exchange for sexual acts.

He also publicised her Telegram username and offer of sexual services on Omegle, posting the same advertisement every 40 seconds for hours each time.

He did the same on online application "Heymandi".

By his estimation, he potentially reached out to over a thousand people, some who contacted the victim for sex.

Foong only stopped sometime before Jun. 5, 2023 as he had grown lazy and the victim wished to take a break from providing sexual services as she was overwhelmed.

During the period where the victim prostituted herself, Foong would received money either in cash or through Paylah from strangers.

He received a total of about S$3,000 during this time.

Threatened to leak nudes

On Jun. 1, 2023, Foong raped the victim again at a staircase landing near his house.

Sometime during the act, he dragged his metal house keys across her chest, leaving red marks.

Sometime between then and Jun. 5, 2023, also he threatened to leak the victim's nudes online if she did not give him S$5,000.

On Jun. 5, 2023, the victim met a man for sex in Bedok in exchange for money, but did not receive the payment.

She texted Foong about the incident and apologised to him, but he told her to "chill" and meet for sex at his house.

There, he raped the victim again and slapped her, after which the victim asked to leave.

When Foong asked why she had left in a hurry, she said she was very scared as she believed Foong had slapped her out of anger.

Victim confessed to her mother

On Jul. 9, 2023, Foong came across the victim's sex videos while scrolling a Telegram channel that shared sexual tapes.

He forwarded the clips to the victim and told her to go his house. He then raped her at a staircase landing.

Later that day, the victim texted him that she was afraid of becoming pregnant, as she had previously missed her period.

The next morning, she told her mother that she had been raped.

Her mother then lodged a police report, and Foong was arrested on the same day.

He was charged in court on Jul. 12, 2023 and released on bail on Dec. 12, 2023.

In court, the deputy public prosecutors sought a "stiff and substantial" sentence of 22 to 26 years' imprisonment and 24 strokes of the cane for Foong.

They cited his exploitation of the victim for his own benefit with the full knowledge that she was underaged, as well as his use of violence to degrade her.

There is currently no evidence to suggest that the 14 online social media posts, which seemingly targeted the Indian community in Singapore, are a coordinated campaign by any particular government or organisation, said Minister of State for the Ministry of Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming.

He was speaking during the parliament session on Jul. 7 in response to questions posed by Members of Parliament (MPs) on the social media posts.

Earlier on Jun. 6, the authorities ordered social media platforms to block access to the 14 online posts, which contained inflammatory narratives suggesting that Singapore was being "overrun by Indians".

Likely originated from China-based platform

Investigations revealed that the content likely originated from a China-based platform and was subsequently carried on other platforms and websites, Goh said.

"The posts attempted to sow discord by inciting ill-will against our Indian community and sought to undermine Singapore’s model of multiculturalism," Goh added.

The government has since issued Disabling Directions under the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) to block access by Singapore users to the 14 online social media posts.

Goh noted that there has been an increase in AI-enabled and inauthentic content that has seeped into Singapore’s online infospace in recent years.

"We monitor the infospace closely, and will not hesitate to take measures if it is in Singapore’s interests," he said, adding that they will regularly review laws to deal with the evolving landscape.