Chinese authorities have recently identified several cases where espionage attempts aimed to steal confidential information from abroad used unused or abandoned network equipment. This was reported by TASS, citing the Ministry of State Security of the People’s Republic of China. The ministry underscored that the rapid modernization of Internet technologies in China has left some outdated devices still connected to networks. In certain instances, these devices have acted as backdoors, enabling illicit data leakage and unauthorized access to sensitive material. The officials warned that such situations pose a real threat to the security of China’s cyberspace and the integrity of its data. (Source: TASS via the PRC’s Ministry of State Security)
A recent trend analysis suggests that aging hardware, when not properly decommissioned, can become a weak link in national security infrastructures. When these devices remain in service longer than their useful life, they may retain default configurations, weak authentication, or unsecured management interfaces. Cyber actors can exploit these gaps to monitor traffic, exfiltrate information, or pivot to related networks. The implications extend beyond isolated incidents, touching the resilience of critical digital ecosystems and the confidence of international partners in shared information environments. (Source: State media reports)
The ministry stated that such situations seriously threaten the security of China’s cyberspace and data, emphasizing the need for rigorous asset disposition, ongoing monitoring, and enhanced network hygiene across government and commercial sectors. In practice, this means tighter control over end-of-life devices, systematic decommissioning processes, and robust inventorying of hardware across large, complex networks. These steps are intended to minimize exposure to backdoors and reduce the window of opportunity for unauthorized access. (Source: official statements)
A court in Taiwan in early September jailed three military intelligence officers for spying for China. The court found them guilty of establishing a spy network and transmitting classified information to the PRC intelligence services. The case highlights a persistent risk of insider threats and external influence that can compromise regional security and intelligence operations. (Source: court ruling details)
The leaked material included information about the organizational structure and personnel of Taiwan’s intelligence community, as well as resources deployed on the mainland. Such disclosures can undermine operational security, reveal recruitment and management practices, and inform adversaries about capabilities and gaps. The verdict underscores how internal actors and external actors can collaborate in ways that degrade national security, even when defenses are technically sophisticated. (Source: judicial records)
Previously Chinese intelligence agencies discovered spy weather stations, illustrating how ancillary infrastructure can be repurposed for intelligence collection. Weather data streams, if manipulated or intercepted, can inadvertently reveal location, timing, and sensor networks used for broader surveillance activities. This underscores a broader pattern: seemingly benign installations can become vectors for espionage when proper safeguards are not in place. (Source: intelligence briefings)