Viruses/Worms News

China appears to pull back on Green Dam web filter

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Chinese authorities may be pulling back on compulsory use of a web filtering software, called Green Dam Youth Escort in English, that web security researchers say can be used to block access to not just pornographic but also political content.

The English-language China Daily reported Tuesday that an official with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said computer users in the country will not be required to use the filtering software, although all PCs sold in China must come pre-packaged with Green Dam beginning July 1st.

"PC makers are only required to save the setup files of the program in the hard drives of the computers, or provide CD-ROMs containing the program with their PC packages," the anonymous official from MIIT told China Daily. "The government's role is limited to having the software developed and providing it free."

Researchers at the University of Michigan reported last week that the software blocks access to websites featuring political content such as news about the dissident group Falun Gong.

The researchers also found security holes in the software that could allow remote attackers to hijack PCs; and evidence that the Chinese company that made Green Dam pilfered code from a U.S. software company.

Chinese officials said this week the software will be patched as soon as possible, while the Chinese company denied pirating code and threatened legal action against the U.S. security researchers.
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