HKPC Warns Against Rising Cyber Threats

Information security experts warned local internet users against the threat from "botnet", a collection of personal computers being hijacked to launch cyber attacks, at the "Information Security Showcase 2009" organized by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today (12 August 2009) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Showcase, Dr Samson Tam, Deputy Chairman of HKPC, urged for urgent action to ward off cyber threats after 532 cases of hacking and other incidents were reported to the HKPC-managed Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) in the first seven months of this year, up 15 percent from the same period last year.

Dr Tam said: "Tackling botnets demands coordinated efforts of the law enforcement authorities, information security experts and computer users across the globe. More resources are required to strengthen our capability to detect malicious internet activities. We also need to raise the awareness of internet users on the potential threats of malwares and to enhance their e-security."

"To this end, information security experts from HKPC and HKCERT will continue to identify new initiatives and solutions to improve internet security, assisting internet users to build a safe and trusted internet environment," he said.

Comprising a conference, an exhibition on the latest products and services, as well as technical workshops, the Showcase offers the latest update on information security. The theme of this year's Showcase is "A Safer Internet Environment for the Community". Today's ceremony was officiated by Mr Stephen Mak, Acting Government Chief Information Officer of the HKSAR Government.

For further details, please contact Mr Anthony Liu at tel. (852) 2788 5609 or visit the Showcase website at www.hkitssm.org. For other media enquiries, please contact Mr Felix Chan at tel. (852) 2788 5036 or email: felixchan@hkpc.org

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Mr Jonathan Ho
General Manager
Corporate Communications
Tel: (852) 2788 6390
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: jonathanho@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

12 August 2009