China says it was targeted in 500,000 cyberattacks

[August 09, 2011]  BEIJING (AP) -- China's computer security agency says the country suffered nearly 500,000 cyberattacks last year and almost half originated overseas.

The National Computer Network Emergency Response Coordination Center of China said 14.7 percent of the attacks came from the United States and 8 percent from India.

The report Tuesday follows suggestions Beijing might be behind global cyberattacks over the past five years targeting more than 70 government entities.

A Chinese state newspaper called it "irresponsible" to link China with Internet hacking attacks reported by computer security firm McAfee Inc. earlier this month. China has not officially commented on the report but has denied all charges of hacking in the past and says the country itself is a victim of hacking.

[Associated Press]

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