[ISN] S. Korea steps up security measures on electronic commerce

[InfoSec News]

http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20050920/660000000020050920114009E8.html

2005/09/20 

SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea unveiled a set of security
measures on electronic commerce Tuesday, hoping to ease consumer fears
about buying goods or conducting banking transactions on the Internet.

Under the three-pronged measures, the government will build and
distribute a new anti-hacking software with stronger security
features, the Ministry of Information and Communication said in a
statement.

In addition, Internet users will be required to install a firewall
program for all kinds of online financial transactions such as stock
trading and insurance, to prevent hackers from stealing personal
information. So far, only Internet banking users have been required to
install the firewall software.

The government also plans to overhaul its management system on public
authentication service, which guarantees users' identification in the
cyber marketplace.

The measures were jointly drawn up by related government offices such
as the Financial Supervisory Service and the Ministry of Commerce,
Industry and Energy, the Information Ministry said.

South Korea is one of the world's most wired countries. More than 12
million people out of its 48 million population have a high-speed
Internet connection, marking the world's highest per-capita broadband
Internet penetration.

Worries about sending personal data or credit card information through
cyberspace have long served as a drag on e-commerce, ministry
officials said.