China's new Green Dam "anti-porn" software is supposed to save young people from wicked influences, but savvy young folks have already exposed it. Yao Minji and Zhu Shenshen download.

Wang Xia, a 42-year-old taxi driver, just downloaded the Green Dam Youth Escort software from its official Website. She learned how to use the filter software from her niece to manage her 12-year-old son's Web-surfing habit.

The filtering software required by the Chinese government with new computer sales after July 1 intended to detect and block pornography Websites and those carrying sexual content.

It's tough for Wang and many parents who panic when a window isn't in its original position onscreen, though they know the basics.

Wang has been worried about what her son is visiting online since he was in seventh grade. "He's using the computer all the time. Every time I ask, he just says he's chatting with friends or checking school projects."

She hopes the software will help curb surfing for inappropriate subjects - she wants to keep tabs on him. But she worries he will circumvent the software since he's so computer-savvy.

"My son is really good with computers, just like other kids his age. They grow up with computers and it won't be hard for them to disable it or get around it," Wang says.

That's the truth. It's a snap to outfox the system, so easy that kids might do it without really trying.

What exactly is mandated and how is not yet clear - manufacturers are awaiting official clarification.

But this is what most computer experts believe at this time:

After July 1, foreign computers probably will not contain the software in the hard drive - manufacturers strongly oppose it - but the software will come on a disc as part of the purchase.

After July 1, Chinese computers probably will have pre-installed software; some may have CDs instead.

Either way, every computer is likely to come with a disc containing the software in the operating system.

The software so far is only compatible with Microsoft Windows, which lets Mac and Linux users bypass the software.

Moreover, it only works for Internet Explorer and cannot operate on other Internet browsers such as Firefox, Safari and Opera.

Chinese Internet users have already tested the software extensively, pointing out its flaws and security loopholes. Basically, it gets an "F."

It slows down computers, shuts down Internet browsers or connections and contains lots of annoying loopholes.

In its attempt to safeguard impressionable young people from too much human flesh, the software blocks images that have a high proportion of flesh color - pink, yellow, tan, apricot and other tones.

This results in some ludicrous situations.

One Netizen, Justine Jia, has tried to open three popular cartoon cats - Garfield, a yellow-orange feline, Hello Kitty, who is sweet pink, and Doraemon, who is blue and white.

Most pictures of Garfield were blocked.

"I guess it's because Garfield is yellow, very close to flesh color," says Jia.

It does not block pictures of dark-skinned people.

The software is designed to promote the "healthy development of the Internet and effectively manage harmful material for the public and prevent it from being spread, especially to children," according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

Spotting and blocking the "flesh" is just one function - it's more than the human flesh search engine.

It also contains a continually updated database of "harmful" Websites, similar to many anti-virus programs. When users try to open these Website using Internet Explorer, the software displays the message "Harmful Material," then shuts down the browser.

Some hackers claimed to have broken the software's code and found the whole list of banned Websites. A list of more than 1,300 Websites, mostly domestic and international porn, have been circulating online.

The two Chinese companies that developed the software have not commented on the issues.

Many Netizens say the software was ineffective and called it "an advertisement for Websites that many people had not previously known about."

The third function, commonly used in firewalls, is to block sensitive keywords, many with sexual meaning or implication, such as tuo diao or "taking off clothes." Another is ba chu, meaning "withdraw."

No one knows what the keywords are, you have to find out for yourself.

Although the software is free to users for the first year (as the government has subsidized it to the tune of 41 million yuan, US$6.12 million), many Chinese Netizens say not thanks but no thanks.

On many computer and IT Websites, negative comments overwhelmingly exceed positive feedback, often exceeding 90 percent.

Even many domestic media have expressed concern about privacy issues, as well as skepticism about the software's effectiveness.

On the other hand, the software's official Website reports positive preliminary feedback.

According to the official Website, more than 106 Websites have provided downloading links for the software, with more than seven million downloaded by the end of May (when it became available but had not been officially announced).

Green Dam Escort Service already has been pre-installed in more than 50 million computers, the official Website says. It's mandatory in all schools, except universities.

What they say

Yao Minji and Zhu Shenshen

Shanghai Daily interviewed computer sales people, Internet security experts, Net cafe owners and others, asking about Green Dam Youth Escort Service.

Netizens

Chinese Internet users reacted fast and fiercely to the announcement about mandatory filtering software.

If you type "Green Dam" in Chinese Google or Baidu, there's an outpouring about "hacking the software," "breaking the software codes," "how to uninstall the software," and so on.

Many people post their testing results online.

At first Netizens were concerned whether the software was pre-installed, whether it could be uninstalled and whether it collects information about the user (such as Websites visited).

The consensus opinion is that it's not worth 41 million yuan.

There are fierce online discussions. Many enjoy "teasing" the software and call it Lu Ba Niang, as Green Dam is lu ba and niang is an unflattering description of a young woman.

Users

"I went online to check out animal photos. A lovely little naked pig was sent onto the black list. Poor little pig!"

"I was curious, so I looked up some photos of naked African women. They were not censored!"

Not only pigs but also pork are blocked by the software, depending on how the pork is cooked. Those cooked in soy sauce (brown) mostly get past Green Dam while the dish called "Crystal Pork," with shredded pork knuckle in jelly, is blocked.

Personal computer makers

Manufacturers are still cautious about the issue. Most manufacturers, domestic and foreign, say they would wait for official updates.

Some foreign manufacturers have expressed opposition. California-based software company Solid Oak said it had already sent letters to US PC makers urging them not to distribute in China.

On June 18, some domestic media reported that officials from MIIT said foreign computer manufacturers would not be required to pre-install the software in computers, but to supply a CD containing the software.

The first announcement by MIIT on June 8 said the software must be pre-installed in the hard drive of all foreign and domestic computers sold after July 1.

Dell and Hewlett Packard have said they are waiting for official answers from the government.

Lenovo Group Ltd, China's No. 1 PC maker, says it is researching the issue and would make an announcement this week.

"HP is working closely with the US trade industry association ITI to seek additional information, clarify open questions and monitor developments on this matter," said HP China in a statement to Shanghai Daily.

Green Dam developers

MIIT says the Green Dam developers must complete testing all software by the end of June. All computers manufactured and sold after July 1 must have pre-installed software.

The developing companies, Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co and Dazheng Human Language Technology Co, couldn't be reached for comments since the announcement.

Computer sales assistants

Many sales persons at a large mall for personal computers in Xujiahui are not concerned about the pre-installation, at least not now while the government subsidy lasts.

After it runs out, the cost of computers may rise.

Those who sell branded computers are concerned about what will happen a year from now and those selling DIY computers are not even considering pre-installation.

Jack Zhang, 27, has been selling many brands of computers for five years and calls it "mafia software (that cannot be fully controlled) and silly software like many others."

"Green Dam is just one of software systems that automatically installs itself into your system folder and doesn't give you much control over it," he says.

"There are lots of filtering softwares on the market, but this one only stirred such waves because it came from the government," says Zhang.

Since the software is free, it won't change his price or costs.

"I'm only a little worried about what happens one year later," he says. "If one year later, MIIT continues to mandate pre-installation (for Chinese computers), that means manufacturers might have to pay for the software, which increases their costs and my prices."

"Who cares about this Green Dam thing," says 25-year-old Nick Tan who sells cheaper DIY computers in the same mall. "Even the operating systems we install for our customers are pirated."

If a customer wants it installed, he or she can download it themselves, says Tan who has been selling computers for three years.

"We won't pre-install it on our products. The announcement doesn't include DIY computers anyway. We're not manufacturers. We just put stuff together," he says.

With three years of computer selling experience, Tan doubts whether any customers would require the pre-installation.

"Why would anyone want a computer with a monitoring system? Whatever it blocks, who wants to be limited from what they can surf?"

Industries

"It's a nightmare," says Alex Wang, editor of an IT Website, who downloaded Green Dam and uninstalled it within one day.

After installing it, his computer crashed and he had to restart it. It usually takes two minutes, but with Green Dam it took six minutes.

Wang typed some keywords like chu yu, meaning getting out of a bath tub, meaning naked.

Microsoft Word shut down without warning. It didn't auto save his file.

"I would go crazy if it were not a test. It's like having to walk through a minefield," Wang says.

Finally, he deleted the software after spending more than 10 minutes finding the right place to uninstall it.

"I had a lot of fun with the software," says Jenny Fu, a programmer for a software developing company. "It's like a game to test the loopholes, and try out settings with all kinds of pictures and Websites."

Net cafe owners

Some Net cafe owners are not particularly concerned about the software, though there has been no official announcement.

"I don't care if it has to be pre-installed, as long as it doesn't affect my business," says Peter Xu, a 32-year-old owner of a Net cafe with nearly 50 computers. "It might protect my customers since it blocks a lot of Websites, but I definitely don't want to use it on my computer.

"If we all have to install it, the customers won't have a choice and our business will be steady," says Xu.

"If nobody else installs it, of course I won't either because customers would go to Websites without Green Dam."

Internet security experts

Some Internet security experts also warn anti-pornography software has loopholes that make computers vulnerable to viruses.

It is believed that at least 3 million computer users have downloaded the software, exposing them to potential security problems.

They suggest deleting thesoftware if possible. To beon the safe side, buy a newcomputer before July 1.