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China reported 223 fake Web sites last year, a huge increase from only one reported in 2002 and 2003.

Figures were released at a two-day annual session on computer network security, which was organized by the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center (CNCERT).

Many Web sites of domestic finance institutions, including the Bank of China, have been imitated. Hackers sent e-mails with false information or forged Web pages to trick Internet users into visiting their fake sites where they are asked to enter their personal banking details, allowing the hackers to steal their money, the CNCERT official said.

As e-commerce and online payment services and bank business become more popular, so do these Web site imitations, said an official at the center.

Most fake Web pages are created by overseas hackers. The Chinese host computers had not been updated with patches or protected by anti-virus software and firewalls, the official said.

According to statistics, Internet-related counterfeits and frauds led to global losses of US$32.2 billion in 2003.

Imitation Web sites, however, is just one of the security problems. Illicit revision of Web pages, spam mail, Internet worms and other viruses are all intimidating the security of China’s computer networks.

The CNCERT dealt with 64,686 security cases involving computer networks last year. The cases of illegally altering Web pages accounted for 45.9 percent of the total.

Officials warned government departments to enhance safeguards of their computer networks, which have become the top target of hackers.