Latest News:  

English>>Business

Online security firm accused of stealing user info

By Wang Xinyuan (Global Times)

08:29, March 05, 2013

(File Photo)

Qihoo 360 Technology, China's largest Internet security service provider, has been under the media spotlight again recently, after being accused of stealing users' private information.

The Shanghai-based National Business Daily (NBD) reported on February 26 that Qihoo had stolen users' information through its security software and browsers, which are offered free of charge to more than 400 million active registered users.

The NASDAQ-listed company's stock price fell by almost 5 percent the same day.

The NBD report cited an independent researcher who posted a video on his personal Weibo showing how Qihoo's Safe Guard and Browser tracked every click by users on their computer and secretly transmitted the information to its cloud server. It also, allegedly, has a mechanism for wiping out the evidence of this, making it hard for people to discover and expose it.

Qihoo was also accused of secretly uninstalling software from competing firms during program upgrades.

The report cited the fact that Apple Inc had deleted all of Qihoo's applications from Apple Stores since January 25 and has not lifted the ban. Though Apple did not give any official announcement on this decision, an opinion from an IT insider was circulated on Weibo saying that Qihoo's products were removed partly because of their collection of users' information.

Some even posted the source code of Qihoo's program for taking users' information.

A reporter with the NBD told the Global Times on condition of anonymity on February 27 that all NBD employees had been required to uninstall Qihoo 360's products for fear of retaliation.

Qihoo responded on February 26, saying that the report was just a rumor fuelled by unidentified individuals and rival firms, and that it had seriously harmed its reputation. The company also said it would sue the NBD for the report.

A member of the NBD editorial staff surnamed Qin said that the newspaper had no official response to Qihoo's lawsuit.

【1】 【2】 【3】



We recommend:

IKEA: Meatballs in China supplied by Fujian factory

Jet-set life takes off for country's super-rich

Taking a bite out of the market for snakes

Ratings agency warns about rising debt

Holiday firework sales fail to boom

4G network to lead the world

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:LiangJun、Li Zhenyu)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Aviation regiment of South Sea Fleet conducts flight training

  2. Operation conducted to expel drug traffickers

  3. Photos of the week (Feb. 24 - March 3)

  4. Quake hits China's Yunnan, 30 injured

  5. Beautiful journalist reporting CPPCC

  6. Two sessions: Journalists on mission

  7. Happy Boy Jaki Tan Jiexi

  8. Luoyang: Resting place of tranquility

  9. China's jumbo jet C919 expected to fly 2014

  10. China builds on border trade

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Spoiled brats spring from pampering parents
  2. A smile can succeed where a scowl fails
  3. Reducing income inequality an urgent task
  4. Why media turns attention to 'two sessions'
  5. New glories for China in striving for nat'l renewal
  6. Home is where the heart is
  7. Are US, N. Korea playing 'basketball diplomacy'?
  8. Who will attend China's upcoming 'two sessions'?
  9. CPC adopts list of state leadership candidates
  10. Quality vocational education

What’s happening in China

The millionaire philanthropist promotes 'Clean Plate Campaign' at CPPCC session.

  1. Explosion injures over 20 in Shenyang | Pictures
  2. Wellington College Shanghai to open soon
  3. China increases nat'l basic education funds
  4. Gold speculation scams on the rise
  5. HK sets baby formula limits