Overview

• China’s Ministry of State Security alleges the NSA began accessing staff smartphones at the National Time Service Center in March 2022 by exploiting a flaw in a foreign-branded device’s messaging app.
• The ministry says stolen logins were then used through 2023–2024 to compromise network systems and other parts of the country’s time infrastructure.
• Authorities report specific attempts to attack the high-precision timekeeping system between August 2023 and June 2024.
• The statement says the operations were masked via VPNs and virtual private servers based in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
• Officials warn that interference with the national time authority could disrupt communications networks, financial transactions, power supply, and international standard time.