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The Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) has uncovered Chinese cyber espionage in the Netherlands. The service discovered advanced Chinese malware that makes this possible. A Chinese state actor is responsible for this, the MIVD states based on its own intelligence.

China uses this type of malware for spying on computer networks. The malware is deployed on systems (FortiGate) from the company Fortinet. It allows computer users to work remotely. Fortinet provides this cyber security worldwide.

The MIVD found the malware last year in the armed forces on a stand-alone computer network. This was used for unclassified Research and Development (R&D). Because this system was self-contained, it did not result in damage to the Defense Department's network.

The MIVD shares information about the incident and the characteristics of the malware on the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) website. This allows users of the FortiGate system to determine if they have been victimized. They can also take measures to defend themselves.

The malware found installed a "backdoor" by exploiting a known vulnerability in FortiGate devices. Thus, the MIVD publication does not describe a new vulnerability in all FortiGate devices.

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