The link provided does a great job of translating the article on China’s Google Earth into English but fails to mention the security issues associated with a Chinese version. It also leaves out the fact that there will be a government edition, or a link (any link) to the original imagery.

This is not a criticism, I edit stuff all the time, leaving out the chunks I think you guys would probably find boring.  Plus, let’s face it, the average person really isn’t that into security related issues.  I’ve routed to the original imagery:

From the link:

The Chinese State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping recently launched the project proposal on a Chinese version of ‘Google Earth’ which is based on an existing program designed and implemented by Chinese scientists called ‘Geo Globe’.

…More on China’s Google Earth

If you follow China’s online development or political movements, then you are probably aware of the anti-pornography campaign.  What you might not know is that Chinese netizens are pushing back with online activism and Beijing is responding.

Clothing Renaissance paintings…freakin’ priceless!

The State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM) and Central Propaganda Department, along with various local areas, are in the process of reviewing online mapping and geographical information websites to determine if they present a threat to national security.

According to the report, Chinese citizen’s territorial consciousness needed to be strengthened, the mapping marketplace required order and online “problematic maps” needed to be decreased.

The SBSM used technical methods to carry out an internet search and discovered there were 15,648 mapping sites.  Among these, 14,760 published maps and 888 provided geographical information services.  According to incomplete statistics, there were actually over 41,000 such sites, of which 8% posed a problem.

An SMSM spokesman said that despite the illegal actions of online mapping and geographical survey services, the “management” work had obtained tangible results but that problems and deficiencies still remained.  Online mapping presented a serious political problem and there was a high-degree of danger in revealing secrets.

Blah, blah, blah…the state would continue to carry out this work and develop a state approved map, available to all.

When China announced a crackdown on porn sites, you would have thought the internet exploded.  Daily updates on the number of porn sites shut down.  Now they come for maps…crickets.

禁忌

(taboo)

Due to the worldwide financial crisis, some very traditional Chinese New Year text messages have made an informal blacklist.

For example take the Chinese New Year phrase 财源滚滚, the first two characters refer to finances and the last two speak about an increase.  Wishing your friend an increase in financial fortunes.  However, another set of characters (裁员), with the exact same pronunciation in Chinese as finances, means to lay off employees. Wishing your friend many layoffs.  Bad juju.

Also, the traditional New Year’s phrase 招财进宝 clashes with 遭裁禁饱.  Again, the sounds are very similar in Chinese but the first phrase means to usher in wealth and prosperity while the latter to suffer a cut in pay.

新牛快乐

From: China.org.cn

“China’s mobile phone users might send more than 18 billion text messages during the week-long Spring Festival that runs until January 31, telecom operators said Monday.

Many of this year’s messages feature a play on words. Under the lunar calendar, 2009 is the year of the Ox, or “niu” in Chinese. So millions of people have gotten greetings saying “Happy Niu Year.”

Text messaging has become increasingly popular during the festival, the biggest holiday in China. Last Lunar New Year, 17 billion messages were sent, compared with 15.2 billion in 2007, 12.6 billion in 2006 and 11 billion in 2005.”

The article fails to mention how many of these might be virus induced.

Click to see the search categories (English translations via Google)

Not sure when Baidu added the “more” section to their search but I could swear it wasn’t there just a few days ago.  Who knows, maybe it has been there for years. Anyway, much like Google, these new (or old?) functions makes life a lot easier if you research China.

Some of the stuff I found interesting: government websites, statistics, universities, documents and books. Plus the normal entertainment, games, music, television, culture…etc.

Chinese hacker sites are constantly talking about methods for stealing QQ numbers and QQ money.  I’d love to see the dollar figures associated with this.

We rarely write about these type of exploits because very few people outside of China use QQ.  I’m guessing the reason for the limited appeal to people outside of China has something to do with the fact they use that pesky Chinese language.

Well, that has all changed.  QQ is now available in English.  Be the first on your block to say, “Who the hell stole my QQ number?!?”

Just finished reading an article at News.cn on the growing number of phishing sites and trojans related to train ticket sales in China.  Train ticket sales soar just before the start of the Chinese New Year, as people use the week-long holiday to visit family and friends.

According to the report, the hackers are setting up sites based on keyword searches and then using search engine optimization techniques to push those websites to the top of the search engine results.  They are also finding the most popular websites associated with train ticket sales and looking for cracks to install trojans.

So, if you were a Chinese hacker, how would you find the hottest trends?  What are people in China searching for at this moment?  What are the most lucrative targets to generate the highest number of compromises?

Top Baidu – Lists all of the most popular Chinese searches in numerous categories (auto xlation version).

Google Insight – You can get a list of the top searches and rising searches covering the last seven days in China.

Google Trends China – Check the popularity of a search term over time such as train ticket.

Knowing where influence takes place is an important aspect in understanding the virtual environment.

-Some dude in a bar

Two different source for some of the hottest Chinese internet slang on the web:

1. Don’t be too CNN | zuò rén bùnéng tài CNN | 做人不能太CNN

Meaning: A synonym for a malicious frame up and blurring of the line between right and wrong.
Background: During the smashing, looting, and arson this March in Lhasa (known now as ‘3-14’ after the date), a news report by CNN used a photo cropped so it appeared Chinese military officers in a truck were attacking protestors. The undoctored picture, in fact, shows a group of protestors lobbing rocks at said vehicle. Upset by CNN’s distortion of the incident Chinese people from all over the world signed a petition demanding CNN’s apology and protested in China and abroad.

During the Olympic Torch Relay in the US, CNN commentator Jack Cafferty made this remark about China: “I think they’re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they’ve been for the last 50 years.” To describe Chinese citizens as outraged by these remarks is to put it far too lightly. Petitions, boycotts, and an array of anti-CNN merchandise popped up and “don’t be too CNN” became a popular phrase online – even popping up in rap videos made by infuriated netizens.

More internet slang at echinacities.com

打酱油

Buy Soy Sauce

Definition: Expressing that one has no knowledge of some thing, or have no comments, an attitude of minding one’s own business.

Origin: From TV news, when a correspondent was interviewing a Guangzhou citizen about the Edison Chen Photo Scandal, the man said: “It’s none of my fxxking business, I just get out to buy soy sauce.”

Later, the phrase was widely used in reply posts and other things, adaptation became fashionable for a time, even derived Soy Sauce Group and other internet slangs.

e.g.: I know nothing about it, I’m a professional soy sauce buyer.

More Chinese internet slang at Chai-Le Part I

Even more internet slang at Chai-Le Part II