China launches about a million cyberattacks on Taiwan every month
Taiwan: According to a statement from the legislature’s information technology (IT) department, the Taipei Times stated that Chinese hackers conduct an average of 900,000 assaults on Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan (LY) per month. The highest legislative body that has the authority to enact laws on behalf of the people is the Legislative Yuan.
In an interview with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Chung Chia-pin, Cheng Hui-pin, the director of the IT department, disclosed this information. According to Taipei Times, Chung questioned the Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee last Thursday during a review of the LY’s budget on the safety and quality of the legislature’s wifi.
Chung said that the Legislative Yuan’s wifi is sluggish and often goes down, and that the network is linked to devices that contain sensitive data that might jeopardize national security if the system is infiltrated.
He also emphasized that the IT department should produce a report on the issues, saying that some of the microphones used by the legislature’s committees were so loud that they may harm hearing and make it hard to do business in adjacent rooms.
According to Chung, the IT department’s funding may be halted until it provides a report on these issues within three months.
Cheng responded to the query by saying that cybersecurity is a major concern and that every month, a significant number of cyberattacks with Chinese origins target the legislature.
As mandated by the Cyber Security Management Act, he said, the department regularly evaluates the legislature’s cyberdefenses. He also said that a comprehensive report on the concerns brought up by the committee will be prepared and presented when it is ready.
Following discussions between members of the committee from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), legislators passed a resolution mandating that the IT department resolve the problems without restricting its budget, according to Taipei Times.
The IT staff has been directed to inspect the audio equipment and examine any devices linked to the legislature’s network for security. Additionally, lawmakers suggested soundproofing the chambers.
