China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has issued a stark warning that foreign spy agencies are deploying malicious Wi-Fi networks near government offices to steal sensitive data from public employees. In a notice published on its official WeChat account on Sunday, the country’s top intelligence body said hostile services are targeting officials who may unknowingly connect to these fake networks, enabling full monitoring of their devices and potentially triggering the leakage of state secrets.
The MSS said public Wi-Fi, though convenient, carries significant risks including data theft, cyberattacks and surveillance. According to the agency, some foreign operatives deliberately install rogue hotspots in areas close to government institutions or classified facilities. If a public employee responsible for sensitive information connects by mistake, attackers may access emails, contacts and files in real time without detection.
The agency added that insecure public networks remain a major gateway for hacker infiltration. Once connected to a compromised hotspot, devices may be infected with hidden malware and remotely controlled by hostile actors, posing dangers to personal assets and broader public safety.
The MSS also warned that data generated while using unsafe Wi-Fi networks, including browsing history, location information and typed content, can be harvested and analysed to build detailed user profiles. Such information can then be exploited to deliver targeted disinformation, inflame hostility and weaken social cohesion. Over time, the agency said, this erosion of consensus and mainstream values could undermine China’s social stability and ideological security.
Chinese authorities urged citizens and government employees to strengthen cyber awareness, avoid connecting to unknown Wi-Fi hotspots, refrain from sensitive operations on public networks and steer clear of suspicious links.
