[ISN] Spam most destructive in China's Internet security

[InfoSec News]

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200409/14/eng20040914_156990.html

By People's Daily Online 
September 14, 2004

The Ministry of Public Security released on September 14 the result of
the nation's inaugural survey on the Internet information security and
computer virus: the infection rate of the computers of users in China
is 87.9 percent and 36 percent of the security incidents are caused by
massive spam transmission.

Virus-related information of totally 7, 072 departments, including
those in governments, finance, education and research,
telecommunication, commerce, was collected. Plus, over 8,400 computer
users were covered. The survey was launched by the Bureau Public
Information and Internet Security Supervision under the Ministry of
Public Security and the Professional Committee of Computer Security of
China Computer Federation.

The survey shows that 87.9-percent infection rate among the computers
of users in Chin, 2 percent up from the last year. The most widespread
computer viruses are Internet Worm virus and the viruses or vicious
codes targeting Internet-browsing software: "Worm.Sasser",
"Worm.NetSky", "Worm.Nimda" and "Digispid.B.Worm" etc. Internet-aimed
destruction is on a rampant rise. Particularly devastating but less
detectable are those computer viruses stealing sensitive information
of computer users, e.g. user account and password.

58 percent of the surveyed departments have had accidents in cyber
security and 36 percent of the incidents are caused by massive
transmission of spam.

As analyzed the main causes of Internet security incidents are: poor
implementation of regulations, low security awareness, ill-trained
management staff in security and a lack of effective channel of
security information reporting. Moreover security service trades
incapable of meeting the needs of the society remain a tough problem.