The information highways are proving very public, but many Asians are travelling naked and defenceless.
Computer viruses are the region's biggest problem.
Two major virus attacks in March and April crippled hundreds of thousands of Asia's computers. Then in late April, the Singapore government was caught snooping into PCs without seeking permission from their owners. While multinational companies now keep a constant vigil on the security of their computer networks, many other companies and individuals have left themselves vulnerable. The latest virus hit more than 650,000 computers in Asia. Named Chernobyl, it remained dormant until April 26, the 13th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear-plant disaster in Ukraine.