Chinese internet users positive on online security, many unaware of cyber attacks: Survey

TIANJIN — Nearly 90 percent of Chinese internet users are positive about China's cybersecurity, though 19 percent have no knowledge of recent cyber attacks, according to a survey by a Chinese internet security platform.

About 56 percent of Chinese internet users said the country's internet environment were "very" or "pretty" secure, while about 32.8 percent of users said the internet security was "generally good," according to the survey by China's 360 Security Center.

Some 40 percent of internet users said they would "pay close attention" to major cyber attacks such as the recent WannaCry attack, while more than 26 percent of the respondents thought such attacks would not affect their lives.

About 19 percent of the internet users had no knowledge of recent cyber attacks, and these people are more vulnerable to cyber attacks, according to the 360 Security Center.

To safeguard cybersecurity, the platform said nearly 90 percent of internet users have installed antivirus software on their cellphones and computers.

China's online population reached 751 million this June, up 2.7 percent from the end of 2016, according to the China Internet Network Information Center. A total of 724 million Chinese now use mobile phones to go online, accounting for 96.3 percent of the online population.