The Beijing-based Economic Observer reported that Chinese hackers continue to suffer a bad image even if they are being recognized as experts in their field.

Qihoo 360 is a Chinese company that offers online security services, where the firm employs many local hackers to search for vulnerabilities in both computer systems and software.

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One of the white hat hacker that works for Qihoo 360, which can only be named as "MJ0011" for security reasons, has even won in the Pwn2Own, a renowned hacking contest. In March 15, the annual TV show "Consumer Day" presented "Ir0nSmith," another of the company's white hat hacker, to promote awareness as he showed how to use Wi-Fi hotspots to get personal information from unsuspecting users of the Wi-Fi connection.

The Observer also reported that it is only recently that Chinese hackers are getting respectable salaries from their employers. Five years ago, a hacker would be lucky if they get a job, said Wang Qi who currently leads a cyber security group, after working for Microsoft. Back then, salaries for Chinese cyber security hackers were so low that Anti-virus company McAfee employed a lot of them, he added.

Lack of stable job and financial opportunities lured many skilled hackers to engage in various illegal activities such as creating malwares and unleashing viruses for profit. Currently a white hat hacker can legally earn a lot of mone while, according to Wang, Chinese hackers continues to evoke their bad image especially in abroad.

Concerned white hat hackers are taking steps to remove the bad reputation attached to the hacking community in China. Famous Chinese hackers are supporting local hacking contests by making guest appearances, and currently, very few if any universities are offering computer hacking as a course.

The effort seems to be paying off. Wang said that Chinese hackers are now turning their attention more on technology rather than financial gain.    

TagsChinese hackers, Qihoo 360, white-hat, white hat hacker, Cyber Security, McAfee, Wi-fi, Ir0nSmith, consumer day, economic observer