Israeli security experts have issued a warning that China is engaging in espionage activities in Israel using connected smart devices ranging from electric cars, robot vacuum cleaners, drones, TikTok, to routers.
A depth report published by Israeli news outlet “Ynetnews” on Saturday revealed that the Israeli government has recently taken a series of actions due to concerns that Chinese-made smart devices could be involved in espionage activities, including suspending bidding by the Defense Ministry for Chinese-manufactured cars.
According to the report, these new measures come as cybersecurity experts have warned that a range of Chinese-made connected smart devices could be transmitting sensitive data to Beijing, posing a threat to Israel’s national security.
The report disclosed that the Israeli Defense Forces have stopped providing officers with the BYD ATTO 3 electric car. Previously, the Defense Forces had equipped models such as the Chinese-made MGZS and Chery Tiggo 8s, but these vehicles are now banned from entering high-security level bases. Additionally, the internet-connected systems such as the emergency E-Call on the cars must be disconnected to prevent external communication.
However, Dr. Harel Menashri, one of the founders of the cybersecurity department of Israel’s Shin Bet and the head of cybersecurity at the Holon Institute of Technology, pointed out that these measures might not be sufficient to mitigate the risk of intelligence leaks.
He warned that Chinese-made cars are equipped with advanced sensors that can collect video, audio, and even biometric data, transmitting them directly to servers in China, potentially leaking intelligence on personnel, facilities, and vehicle movements.
Menashri also raised concerns about Chinese-made surveillance cameras. Since 2018, the United States has banned the use of cameras manufactured by Chinese companies such as Hikvision and Dahua, citing data transmission to servers controlled by the Chinese government once connected to the network.
From 2021, the sale of such devices has been banned in the US, but Israeli government agencies, police, and the Defense Forces continue to widely use them.
Similarly, TP-Link, a company holding a 65% market share in the US, is accused of providing a “pipeline” for network attacks and espionage to the Chinese government through its Wi-Fi routers.
Previously, a group of Microsoft researchers uncovered a network dominated by routers mainly manufactured by TP-Link, controlled by a “Chinese hacker entity.” This network was used to launch cyber attacks against US research institutions, organizations, and security system providers.
In 2024, investigations were launched by the US Department of Commerce, Defense, and Justice. Chinese-manufactured routers were found installed in the US Department of Defense, NASA, and other federal agencies.
Additionally, the Israeli security expert highlighted concerns over Chinese-made robot vacuum cleaners and drones in terms of security. These smart devices are equipped with cameras and sensors to collect data on the layout of homes and offices, as well as the daily habits of owners.
As early as 2020, the security company Checkmarx discovered security vulnerabilities in Chinese-made vacuum cleaners, making them susceptible to external attacks.
Regarding drones, the US Department of Defense has banned the use of drones from the Chinese company DJI, which holds an 80% market share in the private market. The US Department of Commerce is considering restricting their use, citing threats to national security and privacy.
The Chinese short video platform TikTok is another security concern. Despite pressure from supporters leading to its continued operation, the US Department of Justice recently publicly stated that TikTok not only provides a platform for malicious manipulation but also systematically collects personal information of millions of Western users, including their viewpoints, while censoring content deemed unfavorable to the Chinese Communist Party.
Intelligence agencies from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand jointly released a statement three months ago, exposing a network composed of 260,000 cameras, routers, and other internet-accessible devices. The Chinese government used this network for spying activities targeting sensitive organizations across five nations, including businesses, media groups, universities, and government security agencies. The network, named “Flax Typhoon,” is operated by a hacker group associated with the Chinese military but facilitated through a legitimate Chinese cybersecurity company, Integrity Technology Group, listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Nir Ben-Moshe, a former senior official in the Israeli Defense Ministry and currently a visiting researcher on the “Israel-China” project at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), warned in an article published in February 2022 that apart from targeting the US, China is also conducting espionage activities in Israel due to Israel’s status as a leader in advanced technology.
Ben-Moshe noted that Chinese intelligence agencies are particularly focused on the extensive network of connections between Israel and its ally, the US. This network includes the joint development or US-developed weapons systems, export of advanced Israeli military technology abroad, and collaboration between defense institutions, Chinese organizations, and the Israeli academic sector.