[ISN] China's computers at hacking risk

From: InfoSec News <alerts_at_private>
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:17:50 -0500 (CDT)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8094026.stm

By Jonathan Fildes
Science and technology reporter
BBC News
10 June 2009

Every PC in China could be at risk of being taken over by malicious 
hackers because of flaws in compulsory government software.

The potential faults were brought to light by Chinese computer experts 
who said the flaw could lead to a "large-scale disaster".

The Chinese government has mandated that all computers in the country 
must have the screening software installed.

It is intended to filter out offensive material from the net.

The Chinese government said that the Green Dam Youth Escort software, as 
it is known, was intended to push forward the "healthy development of 
the internet" and "effectively manage harmful material for the public 
and prevent it from being spread."

"We found a series of software flaws," explained Isaac Mao, a blogger 
and social entrepreneur in China, as well as a research fellow at 
Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet and Society.

[...]


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Received on Thu Jun 11 2009 - 00:17:50 PDT

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