https://www.scmp.com/rss/296935/feed From black hat hackers attempting to break into government computer systems, to white hat security experts working to crack and improve protections on popular internet browsers, cybersecurity affects us all. Every day hackers steal millions of pieces of personal data and, as former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed, sometimes it may be our own governments doing the snooping. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sylvia Ma,Vincent Chow Sylvia Ma,Vincent Chow With US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell reported to have held urgent talks over Anthropic’s latest artificial intelligence model, experts are warning that immediate cybersecurity assessments are needed to avert potential economic damage running into the hundreds of billions of US dollars. Across the Pacific, however, analysts said China’s banks were taking a more cautious approach, as Beijing prioritises financial stability and intensifies monitoring of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349685/china-banks-buffer-against-ai-contagions-us-sweats-over-anthropics-mythos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349685/china-banks-buffer-against-ai-contagions-us-sweats-over-anthropics-mythos?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:00:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Innovation and technology are key drivers of economic growth and quality of life in Hong Kong. Efforts to make the city an international hub for those sectors have recently been undermined by worrying data breaches. Authorities and organisations handling public data must strengthen digital defences against hacking and mishandling. The latest incident involved the leak of data related to more than 56,000 patients and 1,000 staff members connected with Hospital Authority institutions in Kowloon... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349485/breaches-reveal-worrying-gaps-hong-kongs-data-defences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349485/breaches-reveal-worrying-gaps-hong-kongs-data-defences?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested an employee of a systems maintenance contractor hired by the Hospital Authority on suspicion of stealing the personal data of more than 56,000 patients and 1,000 staff members. The arrest of a 30-year-old local man came just days after the authority reported on Saturday a suspected data leak involving patients in the Kowloon East group of hospitals on a third‑party platform, with police and the privacy watchdog investigating. Police revealed on Wednesday that more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349378/police-arrest-man-suspicion-stealing-personal-data-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349378/police-arrest-man-suspicion-stealing-personal-data-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:57:48 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog and police are investigating a large-scale data leak involving more than 56,000 patients served by the Hospital Authority, which reported the unauthorised retrieval of a variety of information. The authority on Saturday apologised to affected victims – patients of hospitals in Kowloon East – for the breach that compromised their names, identity card numbers, genders, dates of birth, dates of hospital visits and details of surgical procedures, among other... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349020/probe-launched-after-hospital-authority-data-breach-involving-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349020/probe-launched-after-hospital-authority-data-breach-involving-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:55:14 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Police in Sri Lanka arrested 152 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, on Friday for allegedly running a cyberscam operation out of a hotel in the island’s northwest, officials said. The raid took place in the coastal town of Chilaw, 80km (50 miles) north of Colombo, following a tip-off, said police spokesman Frederick Wootler. “Those involved in scamming will be dealt with under our criminal law, while others could be deported,” Wootler said. Local police sources said two Chinese men who tried to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3349001/sri-lanka-arrests-152-alleged-chinese-run-cyberscam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3349001/sri-lanka-arrests-152-alleged-chinese-run-cyberscam?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:23:02 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok A housewife in Hong Kong has lost nearly HK$2.5 million (US$320,500) in an online shopping scam after she tried to buy collagen drinks for HK$530, according to police. The victim saw a Facebook post advertising collagen drinks and transferred HK$530 via Faster Payment System, police said on their CyberDefender Facebook page. The seller later claimed the item was out of stock and offered a refund, sending the woman a link to a fake Facebook page that asked for her online banking... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348716/hong-kong-woman-loses-hk25-million-online-collagen-drinks-scam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348716/hong-kong-woman-loses-hk25-million-online-collagen-drinks-scam?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:03:55 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek suffered a prolonged outage overnight that extended into early Monday morning, disrupting service for hundreds of millions of users, according to a company notice and user feedback. The Hangzhou-based AI lab’s namesake chatbot website and app were offline from Sunday evening, with the company continuing to investigate while issuing fixes from between 1am and 9am on Monday, according to service maintenance records the company published online. The... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348345/deepseek-outage-leaves-millions-cut-and-sparks-complaints-rivals-gain-ground?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348345/deepseek-outage-leaves-millions-cut-and-sparks-complaints-rivals-gain-ground?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:41:43 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press As they fled an Iranian missile strike, some Israelis with Android phones received a text offering a link to real-time information about bomb shelters. But instead of a helpful app, the link downloaded spyware giving hackers access to the device’s camera, location and all its data. The operation, attributed to Iran, showed sophisticated coordination and is just the latest tactic in a cyber conflict that pits the US and Israel against Iran and its digital proxies. As Iran and its supporters seek... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348285/iran-linked-hackers-open-low-cost-digital-front-us-israeli-attacks-mount?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348285/iran-linked-hackers-open-low-cost-digital-front-us-israeli-attacks-mount?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 06:49:43 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam A computer system containing Hong Kong prison employees’ personal data has been hacked, compromising the information of 6,800 current and former staffers. The Correctional Services Department said on Friday evening that a hacker had gained illegal access to one of its IT systems on Tuesday. “After a preliminary investigation, the Correctional Services Department believes the incident involved unauthorised access to the internal Knowledge Management System by a hacker, through which the hacker... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348230/hong-kong-prison-departments-it-system-hacked-6800-employees-data-compromised?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348230/hong-kong-prison-departments-it-system-hacked-6800-employees-data-compromised?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:21:33 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A pro-Iranian hacking group claimed Friday to have hacked an account of FBI Director Kash Patel and has posted online what appear to be years-old photographs of him, along with a work résumé and other personal documents. Many of those records appeared to be more than a decade old. “Kash Patel, the current head of the FBI, who once saw his name displayed with pride on the agency’s headquarters, will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims,” said a message posted on Friday... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348214/pro-iran-hackers-say-they-breached-fbi-chief-patels-email-account-post-personal-files?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348214/pro-iran-hackers-say-they-breached-fbi-chief-patels-email-account-post-personal-files?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:39:34 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Chinese government advisers are calling for government-set “red lines” in artificial intelligence development and applications, as mounting threats of job displacement and data security challenges spark concerns in the country. Jiang Xiaojuan, former deputy secretary general of the State Council, said at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in Hainan province that precaution was needed when using AI simply to reduce labour costs. “Those that do not improve service quality or promote... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347940/job-fears-security-risks-spark-call-chinese-government-red-lines-ai-applications?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347940/job-fears-security-risks-spark-call-chinese-government-red-lines-ai-applications?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A global investigation involving Hong Kong authorities has found that more websites and mobile apps designed for children are collecting personal data – ranging from phone numbers to addresses – than they did about a decade ago. The 2025 Global Privacy Enforcement Network Sweep, which included the participation of Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, examined 876 websites and mobile apps specifically designed for children across multiple sectors in early November,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347829/more-websites-mobile-apps-children-collecting-personal-data-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347829/more-websites-mobile-apps-children-collecting-personal-data-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:55:50 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele Malaysian users are among victims targeted by a newly uncovered iPhone spyware operation that researchers say was used by multiple threat actors across countries, in a sign that sophisticated mobile-hacking tools are spreading through a murkier commercial and criminal ecosystem. The spyware, known as DarkSword, was observed targeting entities in Malaysia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and was uncovered by investigators shortly after they exposed another exploit kit, Coruna, linked to the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347739/iphone-spyware-darksword-hits-malaysia-exposing-spread-sophisticated-hacking-tools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347739/iphone-spyware-darksword-hits-malaysia-exposing-spread-sophisticated-hacking-tools?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:31:37 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Tencent Holdings is rolling out a “ClawBot” plug-in for China’s most popular app WeChat as it seeks to capitalise on the OpenClaw craze, even as authorities continue to warn about risks. The move announced on Sunday will allow WeChat’s more than 1 billion monthly active users to command their OpenClaw artificial intelligence agents directly through the app, which is deeply embedded in daily life in China. In recent weeks, almost every Chinese tech giant has announced new offerings based on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347590/tencent-adds-clawbot-plug-wechat-amid-openclaw-boom-and-privacy-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347590/tencent-adds-clawbot-plug-wechat-amid-openclaw-boom-and-privacy-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:30:07 +0000 Alan Robles Alan Robles Philippine police have foiled a school shooting and rescued seven students radicalised by “foreigners” online to stage an attack in Laguna province near Manila, amid growing calls for stronger parental safeguards against digital threats. Officers rounded up the suspects – five boys and two girls, aged 12 to 17 – on February 2 after receiving a tip-off about an alleged plot they intended to carry out a fortnight later, the Philippine Star reported. The teens, who were turned over to social... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3347111/philippine-police-thwart-roblox-linked-school-shooting-plot-7-teens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3347111/philippine-police-thwart-roblox-linked-school-shooting-plot-7-teens?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 04:22:21 +0000 Ken Ip Ken Ip In China this month, people have been lining up on streets to install an AI programme on their computers. Some had travelled from other cities. Others had waited for hours for engineers to set it up for them. There were even “birth certificates” given out upon installation. The programme is OpenClaw. Its logo is a red lobster. Chinese internet users quickly coined a phrase for the phenomenon: raising lobsters. The scene looks quirky, even amusing. But beneath the spectacle lies a revealing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346562/frenzy-over-ai-agent-openclaw-shows-lobster-has-escaped-pot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346562/frenzy-over-ai-agent-openclaw-shows-lobster-has-escaped-pot?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong’s finance chief has likened the powerful AI agent OpenClaw to an efficient “digital employee”, saying it should not be dismissed but rather improved to address security risk concerns. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s remarks on Monday followed a recent Digital Policy Office advisory urging government departments to avoid installing OpenClaw or its variants due to security concerns. “AI agent OpenClaw has awed the world; the convenience it offers is just like having a digital... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346782/fix-dont-fire-digital-employee-openclaw-over-security-risks-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346782/fix-dont-fire-digital-employee-openclaw-over-security-risks-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:02:37 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang By the time software programmer Guo Cancan realised something had gone horribly wrong with OpenClaw – the task-executing AI agent that has ignited a fervour across China – the damage was already done. While on holiday over the Chinese New Year, Guo was tinkering with the autonomous open-source program. When he attempted to resolve an error that it had made, OpenClaw responded by deleting nearly everything on his computer’s D: drive – a major storage partition – wiping out years of personal data... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346513/inside-openclaw-mania-gripping-china-security-fears-surge-alongside-enthusiasm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346513/inside-openclaw-mania-gripping-china-security-fears-surge-alongside-enthusiasm?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo The United States has imposed sanctions on two companies and six individuals for their roles in operations that used information technology workers in foreign countries to raise money for North Korea. The Treasury Department said the schemes, orchestrated by the North Korean government, had systematically defrauded US businesses and generated revenue to fund North Korea’s weapons programmes, including nearly US$800 million in 2024. The department also accused workers associated with North Korea... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3346426/us-sanctions-2-firms-6-individuals-funding-north-korean-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3346426/us-sanctions-2-firms-6-individuals-funding-north-korean-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:35:07 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Local governments across China have rushed to ride the OpenClaw AI boom in hopes of spurring economic growth, only for Beijing to step in swiftly to rein in the frenzy. Authorities in Beijing have issued a series of safety warnings that analysts say underscore the divide in priorities between local and central authorities. The rush to adopt the artificial intelligence (AI) software has seen major internet companies offer low-cost or easily accessible versions, while local governments have rolled... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346384/what-chinas-openclaw-divide-reveals-about-local-and-central-government-priorities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3346384/what-chinas-openclaw-divide-reveals-about-local-and-central-government-priorities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:57:44 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s central bank has called for heightened cybersecurity awareness and caution in the use of artificial intelligence in the financial sector, adding to a chorus of warnings over security risks amid the nationwide buzz surrounding the OpenClaw AI agent. At its annual technology conference in Beijing on Wednesday, the People’s Bank of China called for further efforts to “enhance the resilience of cybersecurity and data security”, according to a readout of the meeting posted on its website. The... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346352/amid-openclaw-frenzy-chinas-central-bank-adds-cybersecurity-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346352/amid-openclaw-frenzy-chinas-central-bank-adds-cybersecurity-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma China has issued public guidance on using OpenClaw, and reportedly restricted its use in government agencies, as regulators push back against surging use of the artificial intelligence (AI) agent. Best practices include minimising internet exposure and regularly checking for security updates, China’s top software regulator said on Wednesday. The notice followed two earlier official warnings about OpenClaw, an autonomous AI agent used for tasks such as stock picking, sorting emails and creating... https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/tech-trends/article/3346356/openclaw-frenzy-shows-hurdles-rewiring-china-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/tech-trends/article/3346356/openclaw-frenzy-shows-hurdles-rewiring-china-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:08:29 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Meta disabled more than 150,000 accounts and Thai police arrested 21 people in a sweeping international crackdown on Southeast Asian criminal scam centres that targeted people around the world, the social media giant said on Wednesday. The operation was led by Thailand’s Royal Thai Police Anti-Cyber Scam Centre alongside the FBI and the US Justice Department’s Scam Centre Strike Force, with Meta investigators acting on intelligence shared in real time by law enforcement. Online scam networks –... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346280/meta-disables-150000-accounts-global-sting-southeast-asian-scam-centres?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346280/meta-disables-150000-accounts-global-sting-southeast-asian-scam-centres?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:12:19 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse An Iran-linked hacking group claimed responsibility Wednesday for a cyberattack on US medical technology giant Stryker, saying it had extracted 50 terabytes of data in retaliation for military strikes on Iran. “Our major cyber operation has been executed with complete success,” Handala said in a statement. It described the hack as retribution for what it called “the brutal attack on the Minab school” in Iran, where authorities said more than 150 people were killed, and for “ongoing cyber... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346277/iran-group-hacks-us-medical-firm-retaliation-strike-girls-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346277/iran-group-hacks-us-medical-firm-retaliation-strike-girls-school?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 21:45:11 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China’s cybersecurity agency on Tuesday issued a second warning about security and data risks tied to OpenClaw, despite a rush among local governments and tech companies to adopt the artificial intelligence agent amid a nationwide frenzy. At a time when major Chinese cloud service providers were touting easy deployment of OpenClaw to capitalise on its popularity, improper installation and use of the agent had also led to severe security risks, said the National Computer Network Emergency... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346138/china-issues-second-warning-openclaw-risks-amid-adoption-frenzy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346138/china-issues-second-warning-openclaw-risks-amid-adoption-frenzy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:14:18 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Some local governments in China have rushed to support the adoption of OpenClaw, the artificial intelligence agent sweeping the country, even as warnings about privacy and security risks linger in the background. In Shenzhen, China’s southern tech hub, the AI and robotics agency of Longgang district published a draft on Saturday proposing sweeping measures, including subsidies of up to 2 million yuan (US$290,000) for approved projects. The initiative came a day after nearly a thousand people... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345986/chinese-local-governments-offer-openclaw-project-subsidies-security-questions-linger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345986/chinese-local-governments-offer-openclaw-project-subsidies-security-questions-linger?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:30:08 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s highest court says that while it handles AI-related cases with care it has allowed room for the country’s artificial intelligence industry to innovate and make mistakes, according to its annual report. Supreme People’s Court president Zhang Jun told the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislative body, on Monday that the court had “promoted the orderly development of artificial intelligence” last year. Delivering the supreme court’s work report, Zhang said China’s courts... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345999/chinas-top-court-says-it-treats-ai-cases-care-without-stifling-growth-or-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3345999/chinas-top-court-says-it-treats-ai-cases-care-without-stifling-growth-or-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:12:01 +0000 Reuters Reuters The ⁠Philippine government said on Wednesday it had apprehended some of its citizens on suspicion of spying for China in a “serious national security matter” that underscores the need for stricter laws against espionage and foreign interference. Authorities did not provide details about the case, including how many people had been apprehended or whether charges had been filed. “The operations of these individuals acting on the behest ‌of Chinese intelligence have been addressed and terminated,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345452/philippines-arrests-filipino-nationals-suspected-spying-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345452/philippines-arrests-filipino-nationals-suspected-spying-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:02:08 +0000 Coco Feng,Eunice Xu Coco Feng,Eunice Xu Artificial intelligence has become a stronger force on the battlefield, with the US military’s use of AI-assisted strikes on Iran underscoring what analysts say is the “urgency” for China to accelerate its push for tech self-reliance. The US Department of Defence deployed Anthropic’s systems in the Iran campaign even after their deal collapsed, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. The technology was used for intelligence assessments, target identification and battle... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345164/ai-assisted-us-strikes-iran-intensify-china-drive-tech-self-reliance-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345164/ai-assisted-us-strikes-iran-intensify-china-drive-tech-self-reliance-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:00:13 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Lucy Quaggin Khushboo Razdan,Lucy Quaggin Just hours apart on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, two congressional hearings laid bare the United States’ calibrated yet deeply sceptical approach to China, with senior officials stressing the pursuit of stable ties without trust and highlighting alleged Chinese efforts to steal or circumvent US technology restrictions. The officials’ appearances before Congress reflected bipartisan concern and underscored persistent tensions over trade and advanced technologies such as semiconductors, ahead of US... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344521/us-seeks-healthy-trade-relations-china-does-not-trust-it-lawmakers-clarify?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344521/us-seeks-healthy-trade-relations-china-does-not-trust-it-lawmakers-clarify?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:40 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen For overseas researchers, policymakers, businesses and casual users alike, access to China’s public information is quietly shrinking as a growing number of official websites go dark outside the country, a new study has found. The contraction is far from marginal. A number of Chinese government websites were inaccessible from outside the country, the findings showed, indicating the emergence of a “reverse Great Firewall”. This suggests a deliberate effort by Beijing to prevent foreign data mining... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344100/chinas-reverse-great-firewall-quietly-blocking-global-access-official-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344100/chinas-reverse-great-firewall-quietly-blocking-global-access-official-data?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:00:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠Texas has sued TP-Link Systems for allegedly marketing its networking devices deceptively and allowing Beijing to access American consumers’ devices, the state attorney general said on Tuesday. “Despite its ‌claims of privacy and security, TP-Link’s products have been used by [China’s] state-sponsored hacking entities to launch multiple cyberattack operations against the United States,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a press release announcing the lawsuit. “With nearly all of ⁠its... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343846/texas-sues-tp-link-alleging-chinese-government-access-its-devices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343846/texas-sues-tp-link-alleging-chinese-government-access-its-devices?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:12:26 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China has deployed a section of its mysterious cyberspace force to the South China Sea to remain “ready for action”, with the unit making a rare appearance in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Lunar New Year greeting to the military. Xi conveyed his Lunar New Year message to multiple branches of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) via video on Wednesday from Beijing’s Bayi Building – the headquarters of the powerful military command body, the Central Military Commission – according to state... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343312/xis-new-year-message-military-reveals-pla-cyberspace-force-post-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343312/xis-new-year-message-military-reveals-pla-cyberspace-force-post-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog plans to consult lawmakers this year about introducing mandatory data breach reporting and related penalties, the body’s chief has said. Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling on Saturday revealed details about the proposed legislative amendments to the city’s privacy ordinance, after authorities stalled the plan in 2024 over concerns the measures could hurt the local business environment. “We really hope that we have some specific recommendations... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342754/hong-kong-plans-revive-privacy-law-mandating-firms-report-data-breaches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342754/hong-kong-plans-revive-privacy-law-mandating-firms-report-data-breaches?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 07:18:01 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb said on Saturday it had accidentally given away more than US$40 billion worth of bitcoin to customers as promotional rewards, triggering a sharp sell-off on the exchange. Bithumb apologised for the mistake, which took place on Friday, and said it had recovered 99.7 per cent of the 620,000 bitcoin, worth about US$44 billion at current prices. It had restricted trading and withdrawals for the 695 affected customers within 35 minutes of the erroneous... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342749/south-koreas-bithumb-gives-away-over-us40-billion-bit-blunder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342749/south-koreas-bithumb-gives-away-over-us40-billion-bit-blunder?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 05:03:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is striving to become a “fortress” capable of defending the city from increasingly complex hacking attacks and sophisticated scams. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong pointed out at a cybersecurity symposium last month that the development of tech and protection from such threats must be achieved simultaneously. Two recent reports, concerning cyberattacks and data leaks, have highlighted challenges faced in Hong Kong as the world grapples with this growing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342327/hong-kongs-innovation-goals-must-go-hand-hand-cybersecurity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342327/hong-kongs-innovation-goals-must-go-hand-hand-cybersecurity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Reuters Reuters ‌Greek defence authorities have arrested a member ‍of the Greek defence forces accused of leaking “secret information” to “third parties”, the Greek National Defence General Staff (GEETHA) said ⁠on Thursday. Two months ago, Greece’s intelligence service received a tip-off from a Western national security agency that “highly sensitive” information was leaked to China by ‍a member of the country’s military, sources close ‍to the investigation added. The man, a member of the Greek Air Force in ‌the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3342573/greece-arrests-soldier-suspected-leaking-secret-information-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3342573/greece-arrests-soldier-suspected-leaking-secret-information-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:41:21 +0000 Reuters Reuters Two Chinese nationals suspected of trying to intercept satellite communications from ‌a base in an Airbnb rental property in southwestern France have been placed ‍under formal investigation, the Paris public prosecutor’s office said on Thursday. Police were first alerted last week when locals noticed that a roughly two-metre (6.6-foot) wide satellite dish being installed at the property in Gironde, which coincided with an internet outage, the office ⁠said. The two Chinese nationals, and two... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3342564/2-chinese-nationals-suspected-spying-french-airbnb-placed-under-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3342564/2-chinese-nationals-suspected-spying-french-airbnb-placed-under-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:51:10 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Hong Kong’s banking regulator has unveiled four flagship projects, including a quantum computing readiness index, to help the city’s lenders stay competitive and secure in the artificial intelligence era. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said the initiatives formed part of its new Fintech Promotion Blueprint, aimed at guiding responsible innovation and preparing the city’s banking sector for rapid technological change. The blueprint was announced on Tuesday in response to industry... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3342268/hkma-launches-quantum-readiness-and-cybersecurity-projects-banks-ai-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3342268/hkma-launches-quantum-readiness-and-cybersecurity-projects-banks-ai-era?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:31:41 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Data leakage cases recorded by Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog increased 21 per cent last year, with hacking being the primary cause. But the number of doxxing cases had dropped significantly since legislation criminalising the act was passed in 2021, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling said on Tuesday. Chung’s office received 246 data breach notices in 2025, a 21 per cent increase from 203 cases in the year before. Hacking was the main cause of data leaks, accounting for 81... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342216/data-leaks-jump-21-hong-kong-doxxing-hits-record-low?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342216/data-leaks-jump-21-hong-kong-doxxing-hits-record-low?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:40:53 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang China is looking to escalate measures against cybercriminals operating inside and outside its borders by banning convicted citizens from leaving the country, even after they have completed their sentences. The draft Cybercrime Prevention and Control Law bill comes as China doubles down on working with Southeast Asian countries to crack down on cross-border online fraud. The bill, which aims to impose an exit ban on Chinese people found guilty of cross-border online crimes for up to three years... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342128/china-moves-boost-cybercrime-penalties-adding-exit-ban-after-sentences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342128/china-moves-boost-cybercrime-penalties-adding-exit-ban-after-sentences?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:34:58 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chips from Chinese semiconductor designer Hygon Information Technology were found unaffected by a recently disclosed vulnerability in products developed by its US tech licenser and former joint venture partner Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), according to analysts, which showed progress in China’s self-reliance drive. Hygon’s central processing units (CPUs), which were developed under a licence to use AMD’s X86-based Zen chip architecture, did not have the hardware security flaw that affected a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3341570/hygons-chips-safe-amd-security-flaw-amid-chinas-tech-self-reliance-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3341570/hygons-chips-safe-amd-security-flaw-amid-chinas-tech-self-reliance-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:00:12 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma The number of cyberattacks in Hong Kong hit a record high in 2025, with detected system vulnerabilities tripling, prompting experts to warn that artificial intelligence (AI) could pose a major risk of further attacks this year. Edmond Lai Shiao-bun, chief digital officer of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, warned on Wednesday that AI would pose three of the top five security threats to enterprises this year, urging firms to invest more in cybersecurity defences and staffing. “It may not be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341538/hong-kong-hit-record-cyberattacks-2025-ai-linked-threats-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341538/hong-kong-hit-record-cyberattacks-2025-ai-linked-threats-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:48:16 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The pressing need to protect the public from cybercriminals is one of the biggest challenges facing governments around the world. Hong Kong is a prime target, given its status as an international financial centre. The city has been hit with alarming hacking attacks and multiple scams. There is a need for stronger safeguards. Criminal offences used to bring perpetrators to justice are a key weapon. But the city’s laws are out of date and need reform. The last government study of them was in 2000.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340658/hong-kong-needs-constant-vigilance-thwart-cybercriminals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340658/hong-kong-needs-constant-vigilance-thwart-cybercriminals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham The European Commission wants to force EU member states to remove Chinese companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE from its mobile networks, as part of a sweeping new cybersecurity act unveiled on Tuesday. While the bloc’s executive arm has recommended that capitals weed equipment from those providers from their 5G networks since 2020, citing cybersecurity risks, only 13 of 27 have so far acted on it, commission sources said. This marks the first time Brussels has attempted to make their removal... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3340610/eu-moves-force-huawei-out-networks-opening-door-wider-chinese-tech-bans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3340610/eu-moves-force-huawei-out-networks-opening-door-wider-chinese-tech-bans?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:54:09 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong is striving to become a “fortress” that safeguards digital security, the city’s innovation and technology (I&T) minister has said, stressing that cyber warfare is not just a confrontation of technologies but a “full-spectrum contest” that transcends geographical boundaries and integrates artificial intelligence. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong made the remarks at a conference organised by the Digital Policy Office at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340519/hong-kong-strives-be-fortress-safeguards-digital-security-it-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340519/hong-kong-strives-be-fortress-safeguards-digital-security-it-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:28:39 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words I refer to your editorial, “Scam victims need mental health support” (January 15). You rightly highlight the severe financial toll of internet fraud – nearly HK$14 million (US$1.8 million) lost in the first week of 2026 alone – and stress the urgent need to support victims’ mental... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3340412/prioritise-scam-victims-well-being-fighting-transnational-cybercrime?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3340412/prioritise-scam-victims-well-being-fighting-transnational-cybercrime?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen A hacker group with links to China recently used Venezuela-themed phishing emails in a malware campaign targeting US government-related entities, as cyberattack campaigns increasingly leverage geopolitical materials, according to Swiss cybersecurity firm Acronis. A malware campaign has used recent developments between the US and Venezuela as “thematic lures” to attack US government and policy-related entities with a back door that has espionage-focused capabilities, including basic remote... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3340071/china-linked-hackers-used-venezuela-themed-phishing-target-us-agencies-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3340071/china-linked-hackers-used-venezuela-themed-phishing-target-us-agencies-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:39:20 +0000 Clifford Lo Clifford Lo Internet fraudsters tricked more than 270 Hong Kong residents out of nearly HK$14 million (US$1.8 million) through online shopping scams in the first week of 2026, police have said. The average daily loss of HK$2 million prompted the force to issue a scam alert on Monday, urging caution among online consumers and people selling products on the internet. One of the victims was a 26-year-old man who was targeted after he tried to sell a suitcase on the online platform Carousell and left his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339646/online-shopping-scams-cost-hongkongers-hk14-million-first-week-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339646/online-shopping-scams-cost-hongkongers-hk14-million-first-week-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:00:44 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Health tech gadgets displayed at the annual CES trade show make a lot of promises. A smart scale promoted a healthier lifestyle by scanning your feet to track your heart health, and an egg-shaped hormone tracker uses artificial intelligence to help you figure out the best time to conceive. Technology and health experts, however, question the accuracy of products like these and warn of data privacy issues – especially as the US federal government eases up on regulation. The US Food and Drug... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3339151/dose-uncertainty-experts-wary-ai-health-tech-gadgets-display-ces-trade-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3339151/dose-uncertainty-experts-wary-ai-health-tech-gadgets-display-ces-trade-show?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:34:32 +0000