Portals, file-sharing sites lack security

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Portals, file-sharing sites lack security

Security inspections have found that portals and file-sharing websites are vulnerable to hacking, while mobile carriers’ sites are relatively safe, the Ministry of Science, ITC and Future Planning said yesterday.

The 11 websites subject to the security inspections were SK Telecom, KT, LG U+, Naver, Daum, Nate, Filejo, Filenori, Wedisk, Sharebox and Tdisk.

The inspections were carried out in six days between Nov. 18 and Dec. 3.

They tested for leakage of personal information, the spread of malware and safety of additional programs installed through the sites, such as ActiveX.

According to the inspectors, the portals and file-sharing websites were particularly vulnerable in terms of malware infection and the spread of malicious code, phishing attacks and seizure of user accounts.

In the case of portal companies, web security systems and complementary procedures were adequate, but staffing was found to be lacking.

The overall security level of file-sharing websites, which are smaller than the mobile carrier and portal sites, was much lower.

According to the inspection results, the ministry notified each company about specific weaknesses in security and ordered them to improve them as soon as possible.

“Although the ministry only inspected the basic weakness in security of the website, the overall security level was found to be low,” said the ministry spokesman. “Considering that the reliance on Internet sites by corporate management is growing every day, companies will have to significantly increase investment in information security in order for them to survive.”

Meanwhile, based on the test results, the ministry plans to regularly check security vulnerabilities of general Internet services such as banking, shopping malls and social networking services, and release the inspection results to the general public.


BY KIM JUNG-YOON [kjy@joongang.co.kr]
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