Ethical Hacking News
Taiwan's National Security Bureau has issued a warning about the potential security risks associated with China-developed mobile apps, citing excessive data collection and transmission of user data to China. The alert comes as countries such as India have enacted bans against Chinese-made apps due to concerns over their potential impact on national security.
The Taiwanese government has warned about data security risks associated with mobile apps developed by Chinese companies. A recent inspection found that these apps pose significant cybersecurity threats due to excessive data collection and transmission of user data to China. 15 indicators were evaluated, revealing security issues such as excessive data collection, permission usage, and data transmission and sharing. The apps transmit data packets back to servers located in China, raising concerns over potential misuse of personal data. The NSB notes that companies operating in China are obligated to turn over user data under domestic laws, which could breach Taiwanese users' privacy.
The Taiwanese government has recently taken notice of a growing concern regarding the data security risks associated with mobile apps developed by Chinese companies. According to the Taiwan National Security Bureau (NSB), certain China-developed applications pose significant cybersecurity threats due to excessive data collection and transmission of user data to China.
In June 2025, the NSB issued an alert following an inspection carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) and the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) under the National Police Agency. The inspection aimed to assess the security measures implemented by various mobile apps, including RedNote (also known as Xiaohongshu), Weibo, Douyin, WeChat, and Baidu Cloud.
The NSB evaluated these applications against 15 indicators spanning five broad categories: Personal data collection, excessive permission usage, data transmission and sharing, system information extraction, and biometric data access. The results of this assessment revealed a range of security issues, including:
1. Excessive data collection: All the apps were found to collect extensive amounts of personal data, including facial recognition information, screenshots, clipboard contents, contact lists, and location information.
2. Excessive permission usage: The apps were also found to request excessive permissions, which raised concerns about their ability to access sensitive user data without consent.
3. Data transmission and sharing: The NSB discovered that all five apps transmit data packets back to servers located in China, raising serious concerns over the potential misuse of personal data by third-party entities.
The implications of these findings are significant, as they suggest that users of these mobile apps may be at risk of their personal data being compromised or misused. Furthermore, the NSB noted that companies operating in China are obligated to turn over user data under domestic laws for national security, public security, and intelligence purposes, which could potentially breach the privacy of Taiwanese users.
This alert comes as countries such as India have enacted bans against Chinese-made apps due to concerns over their potential impact on national security. In November 2024, Canada ordered TikTok to dissolve its operations in the country, although its fate in the U.S. remains uncertain.
The development has sparked renewed debate about the need for greater scrutiny of mobile apps developed by companies with ties to China. It also highlights the ongoing importance of data protection and cybersecurity measures in an increasingly interconnected world.
The NSB's warning serves as a reminder that users must remain vigilant when choosing mobile apps, especially those with ties to China. By being aware of these risks, individuals can take steps to protect their personal data and ensure they are using secure and reputable apps.
In light of this alert, it is essential for consumers to conduct thorough research on the security measures implemented by mobile apps before installing them. This includes evaluating an app's permission requests, reviewing its data collection practices, and understanding its connection to China.
Furthermore, regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies must work together to address these concerns and develop effective strategies for mitigating the risks associated with China-developed mobile apps.
Ultimately, this incident underscores the need for a proactive approach to data security and cybersecurity. By staying informed about emerging threats and taking steps to protect ourselves and our personal data, we can reduce the risk of falling victim to data breaches or other forms of cyber attacks.
In conclusion, the Taiwan National Security Bureau's warning regarding the data risks associated with China-developed mobile apps highlights the ongoing importance of data protection and cybersecurity measures in an increasingly interconnected world. By being aware of these risks and taking steps to protect ourselves and our personal data, we can reduce the risk of falling victim to data breaches or other forms of cyber attacks.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Taiwans-National-Security-Bureau-Warns-of-Data-Risks-from-China-Developed-Mobile-Apps-ehn.shtml
https://thehackernews.com/2025/07/taiwan-nsb-alerts-public-on-data-risks.html
Published: Fri Jul 11 10:52:50 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
