Crackdown Launched on Wiretapping of Laptop PCs

The government and the information technology industry have begun taking steps in the wake of a Dong-A Ilbo report on the danger of the wiretapping of laptop PCs.

After probing the wiretapping, the government will devise measures with laptop manufacturers, security companies and think tanks. Security companies will be encouraged to develop a new anti-hacking system, while a more aggressive campaign will seek to educate the public on the danger of wiretapping PC notebooks.

A Knowledge Economy Ministry source said yesterday, “We will request laptop manufacturers to adopt the security technology necessary to produce laptops with no chance of information leaks or exploitation by industrial espionage through wiretapping.”

The ministry will discuss measures with experts from major laptop manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, security program developers, Korea Internet and Security Agency, and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute.

Opinions on preventative measures will be gathered and prevention methods for technological and physical security devices to prevent laptop wiretapping will be sought. The ministry will also suggest security devices to laptop makers based on these guidelines.

The Korea Communication Commission will issue rules to prevent illegal wiretapping such as warnings against wiretapping programs.

A commission source said, “We will encourage the market to develop a system that can prevent hacking.”

firedy@donga.com bsism@donga.com