Story perspectives

One-Eighth of U.S. Military Apps Contain Chinese, Russian Code

7/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers at Purdue, West Point and Florida International University found that over one-eighth of apps marketed to U.S. service members contain Chinese or Russian code, exposing troops to foreign data collection.
A rating app uses Huawei components while two Russian-built apps embed Yandex advertising.
In April, U.S. Central Command told Senator Ron Wyden that adversaries used commercial location data to surveil U.S. personnel in the Middle East.

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Story summary

Researchers at Purdue, West Point and Florida International University found that over one-eighth of apps marketed to U.S. service members contain Chinese or Russian code, exposing troops to foreign data collection.
A rating app uses Huawei components while two Russian-built apps embed Yandex advertising.
In April, U.S. Central Command told Senator Ron Wyden that adversaries used commercial location data to surveil U.S. personnel in the Middle East.