Chinese University issues new security alert to students over hacking
Chinese University issues security alert two weeks after it was revealed by Edward Snowden to be target of US spies
Staff and students at Chinese University were warned yesterday to secure their computers against hacking.
The caution came just over two weeks after claims by whistle-blower Edward Snowden that it had been among the targets of a US cyberspying programme.
An e-mail sent by the information security section to all 8students and staff said: "Protecting our data and information against hackers has recently become the talk of the town.''
Titled "Information security reminder - Keep your data out of hackers' reach!", the e-mail is understood to have landed in the inboxes of about 14,800 students and more than 7,500 staff yesterday afternoon.
It included more than a dozen specific "do's and don'ts" on how to block unauthorised access to personal data. "We strive to protect all data … processed and stored by the central information systems and data that flow through our campus network," the e-mail said.
"But there are also simple practices that you may adopt to keep your valuable information and data out of hackers' reach."
Snowden singled out Chinese University as one of several Hong Kong and mainland institutions targeted by US National Security Agency hackers.
He left Hong Kong last Sunday and it is believed he is still in the transit area at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, despite earlier reports that he would seek asylum in Ecuador.