‘Concerns over phone security’

ARMY recruits are being warned not to buy phones from Chinese firm Huawei over concerns about Beijing sharing data and technology with Russia, sources claim.

The world’s second largest phone manufacturer was founded by ex-People’s Liberation Army officer Ren Zhengfei and has reportedly received money from China’s state security services in the past.

Under Chinese law firms must cooperate with intelligence work when asked. Huawei says this obligation does not apply to its operations in other countries.

But an insider at one Army training centre told the Mirror: “Recruits are being advised they shouldn’t have Huawei phones because China share information with Russia.

“They’ve been told about security issues with the phones and warned their data may not be safe if they use them. The advice is to buy phones made by other manufacturers. It’s a worrying situation.” Theresa May was widely criticised in April for giving the green light for Huawei to build parts of Britain’s 5G telecoms network. A final decision has now been delayed until after the general election.

In May the US banned its agencies from trading with the firm after reports of “back doors” found in Huawei equipment. The ban is now lifted.

In 2012 Vodafone said it found vulnerabilities in Huawei routers and networks that would have given the Chinese company access to user data and home networks – but the “mistake” was fixed quickly.

Soldiers are already banned from using mobiles while serving in Lithuania, Estonia and East Ukraine, defence sources say. It is understood Russia’s cyber spooks have sophisticated methods of intercepting calls and “spoofing” messages.

An Army spokesman denied recruits get advice on “specific hardware including mobile phones” though they are briefed on online safety. Huawei did not comment last night.

CLAIMS The Chinese giant