Hidden Surveillance Backdoors Found in Chinese-Made Routers Sold in US

Cybersecurity researchers at VulnCheck discovered two hidden surveillance programs, Speakingstone and Darklantern, built into routers made by China's Zbtlink, including a device bought on Amazon in the US. The software can redirect internet traffic, steal login credentials and grant remote administrator access without a password, and was found actively operating on hundreds of routers linked to China Mobile as well as over a hundred internet-exposed devices in the United States. The discovery illustrates how ordinary consumer infrastructure can be quietly converted into tools of state surveillance, deepening concerns about covert monitoring capacity embedded in everyday digital networks.