#noticiascripto 🚨🔥Chinese officials use malware to extract and search personal data from smartphones

According to a recent security report, officials in China are using malware called Massistant to extract data from seized smartphones.

The security research company Lookout stated that Chinese police could seize any phone or computer without a warrant and gain immediate access to personal data. Massistant extracts SMS messages, images, audio files, videos, and even GPS location data.

The malware is developed by Xiamen Meiya Pico, a Chinese technology company specializing in commercial surveillance software and equipment. The company controls 40% of the digital forensics market in China.

Massistant is widely used by the Chinese police

Chinese citizens have reported multiple times on local forums about finding malware on their phones after interacting with the police. One of the posts dates back to 2020, indicating that the malware has been widely used by the Chinese police in the last five years.

In the post, the user asked if the police had installed malware on their phone. Another user named topsky replied and said: “It is likely that your information was collected when you were subjected to an administrative sanction for illegal behavior, including your mobile phone.”