Science & Tech · Cybersecurity · 2 hrs ago
China warns of laser-based eavesdropping through glass windows
China’s Ministry of State Security has warned about a form of contactless eavesdropping that uses lasers.
The technique targets vibrations in a glass window caused by sound inside a room.
An operator directs a laser at the window and analyses the reflected signal.
That signal may be used to reconstruct speech from inside.
The ministry warned government departments and other entities about the risk six months before the story was published.
It said the surveillance could be conducted by foreign spies.
The warning highlights a potential way sensitive meetings could be overheard without placing a device in the room.
China’s Ministry of State Security warned government departments and other entities about laser-based eavesdropping through glass windows.
The technology can use a laser to detect vibrations in a window caused by sounds inside a room.
An operator can analyse the reflected signal to reconstruct speech, according to the ministry.
The ministry described the risk as potentially involving foreign spies.
- Who
- China’s Ministry of State Security issued the warning.
- What
- It warned about laser-based eavesdropping that can reconstruct speech from vibrations in glass windows.
- When
- Six months before the article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Through glass windows in rooms; the warning concerned government departments and other entities in China.
- Why
- To alert organisations to a potential form of surveillance by foreign spies.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
China’s Ministry of State Security warned government departments and other entities about laser-based eavesdropping.
SCMP published an article describing the warning and how the technology works.
- Warning body
- China’s Ministry of State Security
- Targeted organisations
- Government departments and other entities
- Surveillance method
- A laser detects sound-wave vibrations in glass windows
- Potential operator
- Foreign spies
What people are saying
Sophisticated contactless surveillance technology like this relies on detecting vibrations in glass windows caused by sound waves inside a room.
Sources
Related news
Canadian cybersecurity executive arrested on federal extortion charges
Cyberattack defrosts refrigerators at French supermarket chains
Attackers target critical SonicWall SMA 1000 flaw days after disclosure
Hackers take over Brazil’s Ancine website with political messages
DDoS attack disrupts Canonical websites for more than four hours
Malware incident at contractor may expose 8.7 million karaoke records
Flock gains authority to assign vulnerability IDs for its own products
Ledger confirms tampered wallets linked to CryptoBilis fund thefts
Canadian cybersecurity executive arrested in FBI ShinyHunters investigation
Albert Heijn outage may be linked to a cyberattack, experts say
Ransomware Negotiator Charged With Conspiracy to Extort Money
