China's PLA poses risk to antivirus software supply chain

ANI
13 May 2021, 14:48 GMT+10

Maryland [US], May 13 (ANI): A US-based cybersecurity company recently found out that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has purchased antivirus products from security vendors from the US, Europe and Russia, with the intent to identify vulnerabilities that can be used for compromise.

Citing a report by cybersecurity firm "Recorded Future", news service The CyberWire said that this purchase came under scanner because Beijing has already banned the use of foreign antivirus products, citing security risks.

The report points out that the focus on English versions of these products is notable because Chinese-language versions would be the more logical choice if the software was intended for legitimate use.

It further said the purchase of foreign antivirus software by the PLA poses a "high risk to the global antivirus software supply chain.""PLA cyber units and affiliated hacking groups will use foreign antivirus programs as a testing environment for natively developed malware. They will run the malware through foreign antivirus products to test its ability to evade detection, thereby making it more likely to successfully infect its targeted victims," experts said.

They added that the PLA cyber units and affiliated hacking groups could also possibly reverse engineer the foreign antivirus software code to find previously undisclosed vulnerabilities.

"They will then use the newly discovered vulnerabilities in a zero-day attack for initial intrusion," the report added. (ANI)

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to International Technology.

More Information

null in null

Computers

Section

Apple allows outside payment links under EU pressure

SAN FRANCISCO, California: Under pressure from European regulators, Apple has revamped its App Store policies in the EU, introducing...

Seminar held in national capital focusing prospects of Artificial Intelligence in Northeast region

New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): A seminar on the prospects and possibilities of artificial intelligence in Northeast India was organised...

NMDC expands global footprint with its new office in Dubai, forging global pathways in mining

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 1 (ANI): NMDC, India's largest iron ore producer, marked a significant milestone with the inauguration...

China completes barrier belt to prevent eastward expansion of its fourth-largest desert

YINCHUAN, July 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday reached a major milestone in desertification control by completing a barrier belt along...

Elite Women's Boxing Tournament: Lovlina Borgohain storms into semifinals

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 29 (ANI): Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 medalist Lovlina Borgohain eased past Punjab's Krisha Verma...

Ankushita Boro, Nikhat Zareen advance to semi-finals at Elite Women's Boxing

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 29 (ANI): Former youth world champion Ankushita Boro showcased her class on Day 2 of the Elite...

Internet

Section