A REPORT on Internet privacy and fraud has warned the public to stay vigilant on Internet security risks, including phone scams, fraud messages and malicious websites.

Technology giant Tencent Holdings detected 96.8 million malicious websites, tagged 29.7 million phone numbers used for fraud, and blocked 18.3 million fraudulent messages in the first six months of 2018, according to the report jointly released by Tencent Research Center and the Data Center of China Internet.

The most common fraudulent messages included those on illegal loans, virus software, malicious websites, fake job positions offering high salaries, and online shopping.

The report warned the public of the risks, saying that people should always stay alert and remain sober-minded.

It also pointed out that 56.9 percent of malicious websites are pornographic, and 34.4 percent gambling sites.

The report said the big proportion of gambling sites in the first half of the year was due to the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia this summer.

(Xinhua)