`Web company fined in 2008 for not protecting user data`

SK Communications that operates the micro blogging site Cyworld and online messenger service NateOn is known to have been fined just 20 million won (18,975 U.S. dollars) for not properly protecting user information on its computer systems in 2008.

The Korea Internet Security Agency said Friday that the Korea Communications Commission discovered that SK Communications did not properly encrypt personal information on users. After Cyworld and NateOn were hacked, SK said the private data it had was protected by the highest level of encryption and not easy to crack.

SK did not encrypt user information such as addresses, dates of birth and email addresses, according to the security agency.

dnsp@donga.com