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Most Chinese mobile users exposed to data security risks: report

Xinhua, October 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

Nearly 96 percent of Chinese mobile Internet users have been exposed to information security risks, and over 40 percent of them have "suffered losses," according to a new report.

Of those suffering losses, some have had their private information or money stolen from their mobile accounts, while many have had to spend extra time dealing with security risks, according to the report released Monday by China Internet Network Information Center.

Mobile Internet users in the country numbered 620 million as of the end of 2015, accounting for more than 90 percent of all Chinese Internet users.

However, 38 percent of mobile Internet users still believe it is "very safe" to surf the web via smartphone, the report said, calling for enhanced safety awareness.

Nearly 45 percent of users are in the habit of connecting to WiFi networks without first confirming their safety, making them vulnerable to theft of private information, it said. About 19.6 percent of users said they make purchases or mobile payments while connected to public WiFi networks.

But Chinese mobile Internet users are more vigilant when scanning QR codes, with 67.5 percent of respondents saying the codes include unknown security risks, according to the report.

As of the end of 2015, 450 million Chinese mobile Internet users had security apps installed on their cellphones, though some of the apps had been pre-installed by phone manufacturers, it said. Endi