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New Delhi: Be warned and alert as you might be at the risk of cyber attack if you are using Chinese apps like TrueCaller, Weibo, WeChat, UC News and UC Browser.
The Home Ministry has issued a country-wide advisory to the Army and paramilitary forces warning them of a cyber attack through mobile phones and instructed to delete the Chinese apps and also other Chinese links from their mobile phones, whether it's official or personal.
The Ministry issued the advisory following inputs from RAW and NTRO of such cyber attack.
"As per reliable inputs, a number of android/IOS apps developed by Chinese developers or having Chinese links are reportedly either spyware or other malicious ware. Use of these apps by our force personnel can be detrimental to data security having implications on the force and national security," the advisory read.
The apps which are dubbed as spyware created by the companies in China includes TrueCaller, Weibo, WeChat, UC News, UC Browser and Baidu Maps.
It is worth mentioning that it's not the first time that such concerns have been raised over defence forces being targeted by Chinese hackers. The memories of cyber attack in 2012 when ITBP was compromised are still fresh.
Meanwhile, civilians becoming a victim of such cyber attack can't be ruled out as apps like TrueCaller and WeChat are being highly used in India.
There are several apps that can access one's bank accounts, gmail and other personal details are everything is getting digitalized. It always advisable to not to install any strange app, especially the one created by companies in China, Turkey and Taiwan, said a private cyber security official.
