Apps Marketed to US Troops Are Shipping Chinese and Russian Code

Researchers found that over 1 in 8 apps aimed at US military personnel contained software from foreign companies, including China and Russia.

Many of these apps also relied on third-party SDKs that can collect or share user data, while some understated what data they actually handled.

The findings raise concerns that military-targeted commercial apps and ad-tech tools could expose troop locations, routines, and access to sensitive sites.

The study involved researchers from Purdue University, West Point, and Florida International University, and highlights risks tied to firms like Huawei and Yandex.