Cyber Security Week hopes to raise risk awareness

A photo shows the visitors at the exhibition of a "live coverage of the attacks on the websites nationwide", during China's first nationwide Cyber Security Week held in Beijing Monday, November 24, 2014. [Photo: Imagine China]

National Cyber Security Week begins on Monday for the first time in China. The week of activities kicks off in Beijing with an exhibition on cyber security, an issue of growing importance as more go online.

The internet is everywhere. With growing reliance on web services for work and at play, being connected also increases the risk of cyber fraud. Something not too uncommon these days, with a multitude of hackers and viruses lurking around the web.

This wall of sheep is an interactive demonstration of what could happen when network users let their guard down. If you log into your email, bank websites through an insecure wifi, your personal information, could be easily stolen by any ill-intentioned third parties. This could lead to computer crime and identity theft. Therefore the purpose of this exhibition is to raise security awareness among the general public.

And Chinese antivirus company Qihoo 360 knows too well the risks and vulnerability that web users have to bear, advising precaution online.

"About 600 million smartphone users and 400 million computer users have installed our antivirus software. Therefore we have a real time account of cyber security threats for the individuals. The risks can threaten our finances, identity and privacy therefore we have a shared responsibility to address it," Qi Xiangdong, CEO of Qihoo 360, said.

And that shared responsibility is also what China's internet giant Tencent holdings is advocating for. Already it shares its network security system among industry partners. The database of safe websites alerts web users against malicious sites. The company also set up a NGO to help web users to track cyber fraud and recover losses. It says the web eco-system could be better coordinated.

"No company can guarantee absolute security for customers, therefore we need cooperation between companies and the government. We should also harmonize the different standards in the industry, for example, on wifi access and website certification. I also hope there could be more policy support in the future," Wang Cheng, supervisor of Tencent's Security Office, said.

The exhibition keeps the public updated on safe practices and cyber threats, be it compromised privacy on wifi or a fake QR code.

Visitors can also test their security knowledge. Organizers hope the interactive exhibition could help to raise general awareness and help society better deal with unforeseen cyber issues in the future.