hankyoreh

China-based computer hackers are now taking ‘cyber hostages.’ After paralyzing an owner’s Web site, they demand ransom on the condition of returning the site to normal. Such attacks have soared since last October; while adults-only video chat sites are the main targets, recently Internet portals and online shopping malls have fallen victim.

As of February 6, chat service company ‘Moajoa’ shut down its site for two days after being attacked by China-based hackers. Park Jong-woo, a company official, said, "Operations were halted because an Internet server operator suspended service. We are now checking our e-mail to see whether hackers sent an e-mail seeking money."

So far, most victims have been adults-only Web sites, which are reluctant to report the hacker-related damage to the police because of the nature of their business. However, ordinary Internet companies such as search engines and online shopping companies have become new targets. An Internet server administration company, which declined to give its name, said that recently its servers have been under attack three times daily.

Chinese hackers paralyze a Web site after ordering a virus-infected personal computer to access the Web site several hundred times per second. Due to the sharp spike in traffic, the attack halts the site’s operation. "When the service is halted, Chinese hackers demand an average of 5 million won (US$5,100) from the company," said an official who manages the Internet servers of victims of such cyber crimes.

Kim U-han, a senior official at the Korea Information Security Agency, said, "Attacks by Chinese hackers are becoming more ‘violent.’ Though it’s important to build a security system at each Web site, individual personal computer users should upgrade their security programs so that Chinese hackers cannot exploit them."

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