NATIONAL SECURITY RISK:The Ministry of Science and Technology said government employees should avoid using phones that use Beidou to prevent ‘targeted attacks’
Taipei Times
Date: May 05, 2016
By: Lo Tien-pin and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer
China’s Beidou Satellite System (北斗衛星) poses an information security risk to Taiwan in that
China’s Beidou Navigation Satellite System is pictured in an undated photograph. Screengrab from the Internet
the satellite is able to track smartphone users via embedded malware in devices with Chinese-manufactured chips directly tied into the system or phones manufactured in China, according to the latest mobile device security report that the Ministry of Science and Technology submitted to the Legislative Yuan.
The ministry reported that China’s satellite system, despite claims of being commercial in nature, was primarily for military use, adding that over the past few years, many smartphone vehicle navigation products using Beidou Satellite System guidance chips have been imported to Taiwan.
“[Government employees] should avoid purchasing related products to avoid being the target of attacks,” the report said.
China’s Shanghai Beiga Satellite Technology Co Co (上海北伽導航科技) developed the first 40-nanometer satellite navigation chip in 2014 for use in tablets, smartphones and vehicle navigation systems specifically with the satellite system in mind. [FULL STORY]
