China denies universities hit hard by ransomware

China's national flag flutters at a business district in Beijing, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

SHANGHAI: Chinese authorities have said 66 of the country’s universities were affected by the global ransomware attack, but have rejected reports of widespread damage in higher-education computer systems as “malicious” hype. 

The China Education and Research Network, which operates under the Ministry of Education, said 66 out of 1,600 Chinese universities were affected, mainly due to operating systems not being regularly upgraded rather than any major security shortcomings in university systems.