There were over 47,000 computer viruses in Vietnam in 2009, up 30 percent from 2008, according to statistics from the Bach KHoa Internet Security Centre (BKIS).The most common targets of hackers include websites of internet service providers, financial companies, banks and governmental agencies.

In November and December 2008, BKIS found 18 websites of government ministries and departments attacked by hackers.

The director general of BKIS, Nguyen Tu Quang, said the sites were susceptible because companies lack security knowledge and fail to communicate their needs to the website builders.

Quang called for more security regulations to be put in place and suggested that each department employ professional technicians to handle computer network administration and security.