Tag Archive for: public

2,430 hacking crimes investigated; 7,092 suspects arrested since 2022, effectively safeguarding cybersecurity: public security authority

/in


hacker Photo: VCG

Photo: VCG

Since 2022, public security organs across China have investigated 2,430 hacking crimes and arrested 7,092 suspects, effectively cutting off the chain of hacking crimes, protecting network and data security, and safeguarding the normal order of cyberspace, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Thursday at a press conference.

The authority noted that according to its latest statistics, the number of hacking cases in China has been increasing for three consecutive years, with an average annual growth rate of 27.7 percent. The ministry also noted that the average age of hackers has been decreasing year by year, and there have even been cases of elementary school students proficiently using hacker tools.

The rise in hacking crimes has become increasingly prominent in recent years. During the press conference in Beijing, Shi You, the deputy director of the Bureau of Network Security Protection of the ministry, introduced that hacking crimes mainly involve illegal intrusion into computer information systems, unauthorized access to computer data, illegal control of computer information systems, providing programs and tools for illegal intrusion and control of computer information systems, as well as the destruction of computer information systems.

The ministry released 10 typical cases of hacker crimes, as part of the efforts and significant achievements by the authority during the nationwide campaign called “Clean up the Internet.”

In one typical hacking case, the Panzhihua public security bureau in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province successfully handled in January a case of making profit through illegal remote manipulation of older mobile phones, with the whole chain making illegal profits of more than 100 million yuan ($14.02 million).

The local public security authority in September 2022 uncovered multiple cases of automatic ordering of value-added services on older phones, resulting in monthly deductions of 1 to 10 yuan ($1.4) for related value-added services, indicating that the phones were remotely controlled.

After investigation, it was found that the suspects surnamed Chen and Gao colluded with vendors and manufacturers of older phones to implant Trojan programs…

Source…

Public security agencies wage war against hackers

/in


[Photo/IC]

Chinese police have pledged to continue to intensify their efforts on cybersecurity, as hacking into computer systems has become a major engine for criminal activities.

Statistics released by the Ministry of Public Security on Thursday showed that cybercrime has risen over the past three years at an annual average rate of 27.7 percent.

Since the start of last year, police officers across the country have solved 2,430 criminal cases involving hackers, with the capture of more than 7,000 suspects.

Highlighting the need for improving cybersecurity, Shi You, an official from the ministry, said it has stepped up efforts targeting hacking.

“While directly infiltrating and sabotaging computer information systems, criminals have also been discovered to have provided technical support and material information for other illegal activities such as telecom fraud, online gambling and online pornography,” he said.

The secondary crimes caused by hacking not only disrupt social stability and bring economic losses for people, but they also disturb market order and harm state security, he added.

In one case, for example, Beijing police detained 16 suspects involved in the fraudulent purchase and resale of tickets to scenic tourist spots in August after receiving reports from the public complaining of difficulties in booking the tickets.

The suspects were found to have illegally used software to purchase the tickets and then resell them at a higher price, the ministry said, adding that the illicit gains of the gangs were more than 2.3 million yuan ($315,000).

The capital”s police also seized 25 mobile phones, 21 computers and 26 software programs used to illegally access the tickets when they arrested the suspects, it said.

In another case, police officers in Foshan, Guangdong province, uncovered a group of 31 people in February who had allegedly obtained profits by tampering with an app’s system data.

Shi, from the ministry, stressed the focus on technology, “as the methods used by hackers have diversified with the rapid development of technologies, including artificial intelligence and blockchain”.

He expressed his concern about the…

Source…

Chinese Ministry of Public Security releases 10 typical cases of cracking down on cyberspace violence, illegal crimes

/in


Police officers raise cybersecurity awareness by disseminating education pamphlets among citizens in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, on September 14, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

Police officers raise cybersecurity awareness by disseminating education pamphlets among citizens in Yangzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province, on September 14, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

On Tuesday, China’s Ministry of Public Security released 10 typical cases of cracking down on cases of cyberspace violence and illegal crimes. Those cases included illegally hiring a group of online users to attack others, using hacking methods to obtain large volumes of personal information, and using PS and other technologies to maliciously defame others’ image.

In recent years, cyberspace violence and illegal crimes have becoming increasingly frequent, leading to some individuals experiencing “social death,” mental illness, and even suicide. This has severely disrupted the order of the internet and damaged the online ecosystem, causing a negative social impact. The Chinese public security authorities continue to maintain a “zero tolerance” attitude toward cyberspace violence and illegal crimes and have dealt with a large number of such cases, including insulting and defaming others, spreading rumors, and violating privacy.

In the first typical case, East China’s Jiangsu public security organs targeted a case of a person surnamed Zhang who hired “internet troll army” — a group of users who are paid to post online comments with vested interest on Chinese language websites — to cyberbully others.

The internet security department of Jiangsu public security organs found that during his probation period, Zhang illegally obtained a victim’s private information by installing tracking and eavesdropping devices in order to achieve long-term control over the victim. He spread and promoted indecent videos, images, and insulting articles about the victim through purchasing internet accounts and hiring an online “army.” He also sent reports with false accusation to the victim’s workplace in someone else’s name, causing the victim to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. In January 2023, Zhang was taken into custody by the public security organs in accordance with the law. Currently, Zhang has been sentenced to six years in prison and fined 10,000 yuan ($1,397.96) for the crimes of infringing on…

Source…

Ransomware was behind Toronto Public Library attack

/in


Ransomware is behind last week’s cyber attack against the Toronto Public Library’s IT systems, a spokesperson has confirmed.

Ana-Maria Critchley, the library’s manager of communications and stakeholder relations, made the confirmation in an email this morning. However, she wouldn’t comment on questions about how the incident started and how long it will be before the library’s IT-related services can be back to normal.

“We’re not doing interviews for now,” she said in the email. Any information is being released on the library’s website, tpl.ca.

“There continues to be no evidence at this time that the personal information of our staff or customers has been compromised”, the site says.

The attack started Saturday, Oct. 28.

Library branches are still open, and visitors can still borrow and return books, although the processing and tracking is done on paper rather than by computer. Access to online services such as TPL Kids, Canadiana Online, and others continues to grow.

But library members still can’t access their online accounts or access the library’s digital collection, nor can visitors access public computers or printers.

“Based on our progress to date, we anticipate that it will take a week or more before all systems are fully restored to normal operations,” the site says.

This continues to be a bad year for ransomware around the world, including in Canada. According to B.C.-based Emsisoft threat analyst Brett Callow, the Medusa ransomware gang says it recently hit an Indigenous band and a native counseling service in Alberta, and the Canadian Psychological Association, whose members are psychologists across the country. The CPA hasn’t responded to an email or phone call asking about the attack.

The BlackBasta ransomware group now lists an Alberta-based provider of insurance and healthcare benefits to construction unions among its victims, he added.

In addition, the Daxin Team ransomware group released its third tranche of data stolen from southwestern Ontario hospitals that share an IT services provider.

Separately, Sophos today released a report on ransomware in the global retail sector (registration required), which pulled out data from its…

Source…