MSS reveals case of foreign IP posing as ordinary user to infiltrate Chinese school's network broadcast system

The Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Monday disclosed a case in which an unidentified foreign IP address, disguised as a regular user, infiltrated a Chinese school's network broadcast system in an attempted cyberattack to manipulate broadcast content.

"Lock it down immediately—and cut the link!" commanded a police officer surnamed Zhang, pointing at the screen as a tense cybersecurity operation unfolded inside a municipal state security bureau. After a silent showdown in the digital realm, the attack was successfully repelled.

Who was behind the attack? How did they breach the defenses? State security authorities quickly launched a detailed analysis of the school's internet platform and broadcast system. The investigation revealed that the attackers used overseas networks as a springboard and masked their activities with heavy data flows to evade detection—a tactic similar to those used by a certain anti-China hostile organization abroad.

This group has long carried out frequent and persistent cyberattacks against school broadcast systems across China, attempting to crack passwords, hijack broadcasts, and spread harmful content. The targeted school in this case had its broadcast system directly linked to a publicly accessible webpage, with the login password set as a simple string of consecutive numbers—an obvious vulnerability for the attackers. State security authorities immediately guided the school's management in implementing corrective measures, cutting off the foreign intrusion at its source.

If hostile foreign forces succeed in infiltrating school broadcast systems to spread harmful information, it could seriously damage China's cybersecurity environment. Safeguarding these systems and maintaining a clean, secure cyberspace requires collective vigilance to build an "iron wall" against espionage and sabotage.

The Counter-Espionage Law clearly states that state organs, public organizations, enterprises, institutions, and other social organizations bear primary responsibility for counter-espionage security measures. They must educate personnel on safeguarding national security and mobilize efforts to prevent and combat espionage activities, the MSS emphasized.