GEORGE TOWN: China is fighting cyberattacks through a coordinated strategy linking government, telecommunications firms and private businesses, an IT expert says.
Dr Wu Peng (pic), who has nearly 30 years of IT experience, said the first involved monitoring international Internet connections and major networks within the country to detect possible attacks.
“Telecommunications companies also have their own security systems, while government departments and businesses must meet set safety standards.
“These include firewalls, systems to detect hacking attempts and regular checks to identify weaknesses in computer systems.
“Without unified standards, different government departments may develop their own systems, leaving numerous security vulnerabilities,” said Wu, who was speaking at the “AI-Powered Resilient Cities: From Data to Decisions” roundtable discussion at the 5th Penang International Hanwang Forum 2026 here yesterday.
Wu said Chinese companies would generally allocate between 5% and 10% of their IT budgets to cybersecurity, with some spending as much as 30%.
Smaller companies, he said, are also increasingly turning to data centres operated by major telecommunications companies to host their websites and computer systems, as these offer better protection against cyberattacks.
Wu recalled that hackers frequently broke into websites in China about 10 years ago to insert advertisements or unwanted links.
Such incidents have become less common in recent years, he said, following tighter security regulations, increased spending and the wider use of professionally managed data centres.
However, he stressed that no system could completely prevent cyberattacks.
Wu said some major technology companies in China had even hired hackers to strengthen their cybersecurity.
On online scams, Wu said China also relied on telecommunications monitoring systems and community workers to protect the public, particularly the elderly.
Suspicious calls or messages could trigger alerts, prompting local police officers or community workers to contact elderly residents and warn them against transferring money to scammers.
Banks also conducted additional checks when elderly customers attempted to transfer large sums of money, he added.
Wu said hackers generally fell into two groups – those seeking financial or political gain and those wanting to prove their abilities or gain recognition.
“Some hackers are motivated by personal interests or the desire to prove their abilities, rather than financial gain.
“Even government and private company websites that do not handle financial transactions could become targets,” he said.
“Those with political motives could disrupt rival websites, spread false or harmful information, or influence what people see online. Such attacks can be carried out by individuals or groups.”
Turning to Malaysia, Wu said adopting common security standards, conducting regular checks and establishing clear responsibilities could help reduce the risk of cyberattacks.
On AI, Wu said the technology could help detect cyberattacks and reduce cybersecurity costs.
He said protecting computer systems required strong government policies, common security standards, business investment, proper safeguards and public awareness, rather than relying on technology alone.
