A report from the China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance claims that US intelligence agencies have been secretly collecting data from mobile phone users worldwide. The Chinese organization says the US used hacking tools to access SIM cards, operating systems, and mobile apps. They also targeted Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and mobile networks to track users without their knowledge.
The collected data includes personal info, account details, and location history. For iPhones, the agencies allegedly used zero-click exploits to embed software directly into the devices. They also sent special messages through iMessage to install spyware. Once installed, the spyware could steal messages, call records, photos, and even real-time location data.
This method allows the agencies to track iPhone users long-term without being detected. The China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance notes that the US agencies didn’t just access users through smartphones. They also used other means, such as:
- Leading IT companies’ data centers
- Network providers
- Internet service providers
- USB cables and data transfer devices
The alliance warns that all mobile phone users are at risk. The US agencies allegedly used spy tools, Trojans, and covert methods to monitor smartphones, companies, and even government agencies. This threatens users’ privacy and national security.
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