The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense has issued an unusual recommendation to its residents: get rid of their Chinese smartphones immediately.
This is after a government report showed that Chinese-made mobile devices have a built-in option to censor controversial political content from the Chinese, such as: "Long live Tibet," "Independence for Tibet", Long live Taiwan's independence "and" Democratic movement ".
Smartphone, istockphoto
Although these capabilities have been disabled, according to Chinese cellular companies in the EU, it turns out that these capabilities can be activated remotely on devices at all times.
"Our recommendation is not to buy new Chinese phones and get rid of those that have already been bought as soon as possible," Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Margiris Abokevichius told the media during a press conference at which the report's conclusions were presented.
Beyond that, Lithuania's cyber system said that some Chinese cell phones include sending encrypted data to a server located in Singapore so that information can actually be extracted from the activity of these cell phones without the knowledge of their owners.
However it is important to note that the sensitivities and intrusions have not been detected in all Chinese cellular companies and only in some of the models and yet the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense has taken a very combative and relatively unusual line.
One of the reasons for this is the rapid deterioration in China-Lithuania relations against the background of Lithuania's mostly symbolic recognition of Taiwan as an independent state.
The Lithuanians annoyed the Chinese following the fact that they allowed the Taiwanese government to open offices in Lithuania that would be called the offices of the Taiwanese mission.
This decision led China to inform the Lithuanian ambassador in Beijing that he must return to his country and at the same time China to lower its representation in Lithuania.
On the other hand, the US Government's National Security Adviser called the Prime Minister of Lithuania and strengthened the country's position, noting the US support for this move.
Lithuanians love Chinese smartphones, Photo: EPA
Meanwhile, Dr. Harel Manshari, head of the cyber field at HIT (Holon Institute of Technology) and one of the founders of the GSS 'cyber network, commented on the opinion and said: "Chinese companies are obliged to carry out instructions of the Chinese regime and this issue is enshrined in legislation.
We know that the Chinese regime is pursuing a strategy in which they are interested in taking over world communication systems and transferring vast databases to China.
The Chinese regime is trying to take over information from every sensor and sensor they are able to get their hands on, taking advantage of the fact that most of the production takes place in China.
The goal is to establish Big Data centers based on this information that will help the Chinese regime become the world's leading power. "
Dr. Harel Manshari: HIT Holon, screenshot
The legislation in China binds the commercial companies and requires them to allow Chinese intelligence to reach the production lines and implant backdoors as well as carry out inspections for the Chinese government and install software components in operating systems with the aim of transmitting information to servers in China. Last year, a German researcher proved, for example, that once you turn on a Shiomi device, it starts transmitting data to servers in China without the user's knowledge or consent - it can not be called anything other than spyware. It is important for people to be aware of the significance of buying Chinese phones. Chinese phones offer consumers advanced and technological devices at much lower prices than the competition between Samsung or Apple. And yet, in return, the user will have to transfer information into the hands of a foreign power. "