360 Enterprise Security Group, also known as Qihoo 360, is running China’s newly opened and first cybersecurity innovation center. The company has been in the news recently both at home and abroad for helping out the FBI but causing upset with its security camera spying platform.
China opened its first cybersecurity innovation center on Tuesday which aims to use civil-military integration as part of the country’s cyber defenses, the People’s Daily reported. To begin with the center will build systems to protect military-related internet services and a mechanism for sharing threat intelligence. It will encourage private sector involvement, working with small and medium companies to cooperate on R&D.
The center will also set up a fund for cybersecurity innovation investment and may even look into how to assemble cyber militia and teams to monitor and analyze ongoing threats.
It was established by the Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development and “related military bodies”. These will supervise the center as it is being operated by cybersecurity company 360 Enterprise Security Group, part of Qihoo 360.
The People’s Daily quotes 360 Enterprise Security Group chairman Qi Xiangdong as saying at the ceremony:
“Countries like the US and Israel that are taking the lead in cyberspace development have demonstrated how cybersecurity companies can help support a nation’s national defense needs in the virtual world. In turn, the development of cyber defense can help give a boost to the whole industry.”
Qihoo 360 has been making headlines recently. Earlier in December the FBI in Alaska thanked the company on Twitter for helping it crack three local cyber crime cases involving DDOS attacks.
Meanwhile in China its Shuidi platform was the focus of public criticism for live streaming from consumer-level surveillance cameras to a platform. People felt the fact they might be being watched online by others while in a shop or public place was infringing their privacy. Qihoo 360 decided to shut down the service after a period of “reflection”.