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Fifty percent of computers in China attacked

	Computer Crime in China on the Rise Posted: Jan 17 2002 China Wire Service China's computer virus monitoring authority announced the nation's first survey on computer security, reporting that more than half of China's computers have been attacked by computer viruses or Trojans. The survey, conducted online between 15 April and 25 May by the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center and the Ministry of Public Security, said 27 percent of computers were free from virus attacks. Approximately 59 percent of affected computers were attacked more than three times. "Viruses pose a serious computer security problem for the country," said Zhang Jian, director of the center's testing division. "It's a warning signal that users' lack of awareness may cause further harm." The main sources of computer viruses are pirated compact disks and software disks, the report said. The report said Trojans are one of the most serious threats to network security. Hong Kong's Special Administrative Region (SAR) is aiming to help all sectors of the public become more acquainted with Information Technology (IT) and benefit from it. The Home Affairs Department would start work soon on identifying suitable locations in all 18 districts to set up Cyber Centers, which would have the capacity to run IT training classes. Antony Leung, financial secretary noted that the government had committed about 2.2 billion HK dollars ($282 million US) to the development and promotion of IT in the community. Furthering China's approach toward home grown underground Hacking groups which continue to plague government institutions and private enterprise, new recommendations have been made pertaining to the penalties which may be handed down for various computer related crimes. US and multinational businesses have been concerned over the recent rise in Chinese "Hacktivism". Admiral M.E. Burman (Ret.) of the Pan-Pacific Information Watch (PPIW) noted that, "As China makes the transition to a free economy, counter-revolutionary hackers will sharpen their skills and prey on business as opposed to the PRC political establishment." In an initial Chinese government response to the report by the working group on computer-related crime and fraud, Peoples Republic of China Deputy Secretary for Security Cheung Siu-hing stated that thrill-seeking computer hackers should receive more lenient penalties than those hacking for profit. However the report did maintain that hacking in general should be treated as a serious crime. Ms. Cheung indicated that hackers who oke into networks for fun and intellectual challenge rather than profit should face up to three years in prison, rather than the 10 years recommended in the report. The Chinese judiciary has traditionally handed out tough sentences for high profile crimes such as un-authorized hacking, yet in some Chinese government circles the unofficial attitude is lax. Ms. Cheung said that there had been general acceptance of the working group's underlying principles and approach to issues, such as the need to review laws and the importance of private sector participation. When questioned on the effect that enhanced new laws may have on the mainland hacking community; underground hacker who answers to the name of 'Rebel Boxer' replied; "We have a long standing tradition of domination by foreign influence. Now the Chinese can compete without having to leave their country, all we have to do is be better at using the computers and the internet. These laws will not stop it" Because giving more uniformity for government efforts has been a major objective of the new approach toward the entire criminal justice system in China in recent years, Ms. Cheung noted that the Government accepted most of the report's proposals, such as conducting risk and vulnerability assessments, strengthening co-ordination and improving emergency response. After lagging behind international standards on the protection of Intellectual Property and privacy on the internet many observers have been encouraged by the recent announcements that the Chinese Federal Government also supported the creation of a mechanism for information sharing, promoting intra agency participation, and mapping out overall public sector education strategy on computer crimes. Go Top