“National security authorities, in cooperation with relevant departments, have launched a nationwide special operation to address this issue,” the report said.
The statement said hundreds of devices were seized and the individuals involved were punished.
The ministry did not name the foreign organization, but claimed it had deployed equipment in states around the Bohai Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea.
“These devices can not only steal civil aviation data, but may also intercept sensitive military aviation information,” the report said.
The device can be used to collect information such as type, location, speed and direction from aircraft flying nearby, the statement said. The data was allegedly sent to computers controlled by foreign groups.
It warned that any organization or individual that transmits data to a foreign entity is engaging in illegal activities that threaten national security.
The device is believed to be able to cover a range of 300 km to 400 km (186 to 248 miles). In other words, if these devices were installed all over the country, 300 of them would be enough to monitor all of China’s airspace.
China warns military enthusiasts not to take photos of sensitive equipment
China warns military enthusiasts not to take photos of sensitive equipment
The spy agency also said that if a large number of illegal devices were operated simultaneously, they would cause “signal interference to both civil air traffic control and military air traffic control systems, posing a serious threat to China’s aviation security.” Ta.
The device’s functionality could also “evolve” as it can be programmed remotely, the ministry said.
“It is estimated that each device can transmit approximately 1,000 flight data and approximately 130,000 location data points overseas each day,” the report said.
Receives ADS-B signals used by commercial aircraft, including location, altitude, identification code, flight speed, and vertical speed.
The ADS-B system facilitates the exchange of data between aircraft without the use of ground-based equipment and helps detect potential route conflicts and prevent collisions.
These signals are available to anyone with a receiver, similar to tuning into a radio station. The data is primarily used by platforms such as Flightradar24 and VariFlight to collect and provide flight information.
China slams ‘malicious foreign forces’ over anti-espionage law
China slams ‘malicious foreign forces’ over anti-espionage law
But when large amounts of data are aggregated, significant intelligence value is preserved through data mining techniques, according to a mainland Chinese expert who requested anonymity.
“This raises concerns, especially for devices developed by foreign companies whose software and hardware have not been open sourced, as these devices may upload other sensitive data.” he said.
“Multiple ADS-B receivers, strategically placed, may also form a passive radar system. Therefore, to eliminate the risk, imported radio receiving equipment, especially for data transmission to foreign companies, It is essential to regulate.”