
- #Chinese espionage group deploys windows systems android
- #Chinese espionage group deploys windows systems software
Both are owned by Nasdaq-listed PDD, a multinational company with roots in China. The revelations are also likely to draw more attention to Pinduoduo’s international sister app, Temu, which is topping US download charts and fast expanding in other Western markets. Some American lawmakers are pushing for a national ban on the popular short-video app, whose CEO Shou Chew was grilled by Congress for five hours last week about its relations with the Chinese government.
#Chinese espionage group deploys windows systems software
Malware, short for malicious software, refers to any software developed to steal data or interfere with computer systems and mobile devices.Įvidence of sophisticated malware in the Pinduoduo app comes amid intense scrutiny of Chinese-developed apps like TikTok over concerns about data security. This is highly unusual, and it is pretty damning for Pinduoduo. “This is highly unusual, and it is pretty damning for Pinduoduo.”

“We haven’t seen a mainstream app like this trying to escalate their privileges to gain access to things that they’re not supposed to gain access to,” said Mikko Hyppönen, chief research officer at WithSecure, a Finnish cybersecurity firm. Company insiders said the exploits were utilized to spy on users and competitors, allegedly to boost sales.
#Chinese espionage group deploys windows systems android
Multiple experts identified the presence of malware on the Pinduoduo app that exploited vulnerabilities in Android operating systems. In a detailed investigation, CNN spoke to half a dozen cybersecurity teams from Asia, Europe and the United States - as well as multiple former and current Pinduoduo employees - after receiving a tipoff. While many apps collect vast troves of user data, sometimes without explicit consent, experts say e-commerce giant Pinduoduo has taken violations of privacy and data security to the next level. It is one of China’s most popular shopping apps, selling clothing, groceries and just about everything else under the sun to more than 750 million users a month.īut according to cybersecurity researchers, it can also bypass users’ cell phone security to monitor activities on other apps, check notifications, read private messages and change settings.Īnd once installed, it’s tough to remove.
