SARS launches its own Internet browser to solve Flash problems

mercurial said:
Seems strange that they couldn't update their systems three years ago but they can suddenly create their own browser so quick?
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Haven't read the article, I would guess they are using an older version of an existing open source browser like chromium with flash embedded to bypass the lack of flash.

Messugga said:
Who wants to bet on how long it'll take before people start punching holes in this thing's security?
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More like this thing is punching holes into your computers security.



So any bets on the value of the tender awarded for this permanent temporary stop gap solution.
 
Windows 10 for some reason do not want to install this. Hopefully they send our tax documents via SAPO so that we can do it manually and drop it off.
 
Dear Taxpayers and Traders,

SARS apologises for the inconvenience and service disruption caused by the discontinuance of the Adobe Flash player.

We are pleased to inform you that an alternate SARS Browser solution has been implemented which affords you the ability to complete and submit the Flash-based forms not migrated to HTML5, in the interim, while we complete the migration.

The SARS Browser enables access to ALL eFiling forms, including those that require Adobe Flash, thus maintaining compliance with your filing obligations.

Please note that existing browsers such as Chrome & Edge will continue to work for all forms already migrated with the major and high volume ones being Income Tax (PIT, Provisional Tax, CIT & Trusts), Value Added Tax, Pay as you Earn and Excise.

You are please requested to use the SARS browser should access to the forms not yet migrated be required, which include:
RAV01Registration, Amendments and Verification Form
TDC01Transfer Duty
IT3-01Financial Certificate Information
IT3-02Financial Declaration
TCR01Tax compliance Status Request
DTR01Dividends Tax Transactions Information
WTIWithholding Tax on Interest
Please note that the SARS Browser will require software to be installed on your PC and is currently compatible with Windows devices only.

This SARS browser deploys as a separate application and can only be used to access the SARS eFiling website and SARS Corporate website. It cannot be used as a browser for general internet browsing.
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Oh my... they still blame the discontinuance of Flash... and not their negligence and incapabilities to implement an alternative in more than 5 years since being informed of the end of Flash....
 
rvZA said:
Oh my... they still blame the discontinuance of Flash... and not their negligence and incapabilities to implement an alternative in more than 5 years since being informed of the end of Flash....
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These companies that say they are going to discontinue something and then actually stick to the date and don't delay it 5 times before failing to discontinue it are ridiculous. Who does that really...
 
Johnatan56 said:
Everyone reasonable until they realized it was government that was being talked about.
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No. If you expected a quick fix HTML5 solution for this you are dumb/clueless.

Even if they start with an HTML5 solution today it will take 3-4 months for a partial/poc release and a further year or two for a full roll out at least.
 
Hamster said:
No. If you expected a quick fix HTML5 solution for this you are dumb/clueless.

Even if they start with an HTML5 solution today it will take 3-4 months for a partial/poc release and a further year or two for a full roll out at least.
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Ah, thought you meant from 2/3 years ago.

If they did a rush version, they could probs get different devs for every form and get it pushed out <2/3 months, but highly doubt due to bureaucracy and testing, so will probs be 2/3 years till they sort it out.
At its hearts, these forms really aren't that complex if the rules etc. are properly captured, will be in terms of time: upper management > middle management > lower management > the other management > design/rule capture > qa > user testing > dev time.
 
Blimey. So instead of coming up with a solution they roll out a problem. Guess they finally figured out Adobe was really canning flash unlike our DTT migration.
 
Thor said:
Jesus H Christ.

Count on SA government to pick the only wrong solution to a problem as the solution.
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I've been to meetings like this in private enterprise.

Where someone suggests a terrible idea and everyone in the room starts agreeing with them as it seems like a quick fix for all their problems but in actual fact all it does is create all new problems soon to be realised down the road.

Your voice of reason is drowned out when you start talking about "let's look at the root cause", "let's spend time on design", "let's refactor". No, no, we need a quick fix right now say the project / product managers and you know the battle is lost.

1611609632279.png
 
Hamster said:
No. If you expected a quick fix HTML5 solution for this you are dumb/clueless.

Even if they start with an HTML5 solution today it will take 3-4 months for a partial/poc release and a further year or two for a full roll out at least.
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They started last year there would have been no problem
 
Martin_P said:
They started last year there would have been no problem
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They'd need to not only solve the technical problems of displaying the same form on both the web and branch desktop software but also the versioning and distribution of it. Not difficult but time consuming, then they'd need to convert everything single form, the logic in those forms, the security (client side changes to the js/html) and get them tested.

There's no corporate in this world that would pull that off within a year.
 
Hamster said:
They'd need to not only solve the technical problems of displaying the same form on both the web and branch desktop software but also the versioning and distribution of it. Not difficult but time consuming, then they'd need to convert everything single form, the logic in those forms, the security (client side changes to the js/html) and get them tested.

There's no corporate in this world that would pull that off within a year.
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Why not?

We have a vaccines in a shorter time frame.
 
Mystic Twilight said:
Haven't read the article, I would guess they are using an older version of an existing open source browser like chromium with flash embedded to bypass the lack of flash.
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Most probably this.

There's a program called Mastermaths for school kids that aids with math online, uses flash for the lessons and responses. Early in January we received email that we need to go to a google drive address and download a customized browser specifically to be used with the platform from now on.

Downloaded and it was just an old portable version of Chrome with I think updates disabled. This will probably be what SARS implement as well.
 
Messugga said:
Who wants to bet on how long it'll take before people start punching holes in this thing's security?
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What security would that be (asking for the friend of an enemy)?

ronald911 said:
Wow they really don't want the rich (Apple) and smart (Linux) users to pay taxes....
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What's that, there are people that do not use Windows on their computers? Protect me from yourself!

Fulcrum29 said:
For a national revenue service they don't have best practices in place. The security community must be... entertained.

Who is doing the security audits at SARS anyway?
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That would be the guys guarding the entrance/exit doors at the SARS branches.

Mystic Twilight said:
Haven't read the article, I would guess they are using an older version of an existing open source browser like chromium with flash embedded to bypass the lack of flash.



More like this thing is punching holes into your computers security.



So any bets on the value of the tender awarded for this permanent temporary stop gap solution.
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That's what I assumed as well, I have no interest in finding out though.

rvZA said:
Oh my... they still blame the discontinuance of Flash... and not their negligence and incapabilities to implement an alternative in more than 5 years since being informed of the end of Flash....
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That's exactly what I wanted to say: this is not about Adobe Flash coming to an end or even the security risks that Adobe Flash has, it is about SARS incompetence.

Jaws677 said:
You are the reason why they are in this mess in the first place
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LOL, took me a moment to get that, good one!

Napalm2880 said:
I've been to meetings like this in private enterprise.

Where someone suggests a terrible idea and everyone in the room starts agreeing with them as it seems like a quick fix for all their problems but in actual fact all it does is create all new problems soon to be realised down the road.

Your voice of reason is drowned out when you start talking about "let's look at the root cause", "let's spend time on design", "let's refactor". No, no, we need a quick fix right now say the project / product managers and you know the battle is lost.
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Yep, Scott Adams warned everyone about stuff like this.

Hamster said:
They'd need to not only solve the technical problems of displaying the same form on both the web and branch desktop software but also the versioning and distribution of it. Not difficult but time consuming, then they'd need to convert everything single form, the logic in those forms, the security (client side changes to the js/html) and get them tested.

There's no corporate in this world that would pull that off within a year.
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I have to disagree, there are definitely companies out there that are competent and capable of pulling this off in a few months, SARS and BEE companies are not among those.

In the special case of SARS, I highly recommend dogfooding so SARS gets a taste of its own poison before unleashing its crap onto tax payers.
 
This is quite literally the stupidest thing Ive seen.

They didnt just have 10 years to fix this, they never should have built it this way in the first place. Everyone said at the time that Flash is dead
 
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