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Why Huawei Gives the US and Its Allies Security Nightmares (technologyreview.com)

Posted by msmash on from the closer-look dept.

Perhaps the most insightful piece that sums up why the U.S. and its allies are apprehensive of using Huawei's products. Six reasons, we are just highlighting the pointers, click on the source story to read the description:
1. There could be "kill switches" in Huawei equipment.
2. ... That even close inspections miss.
3. Back doors could be used for data snooping.
4. The rollout of 5G wireless networks will make everything worse.
5. Chinese firms will ship tech to countries in defiance of a US trade embargo.
6. Huawei isn't as immune to Chinese government influence as it claims to be.

7 of 346 comments (clear)

  1. US govt propaganda by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's why we are to be afraid. Guess what, your mobile mandatory location identifying device (as required by US law) is a leash.

    1. Re:US govt propaganda by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      All popular computer applications are spyware now. Everything is data-mining you as much as possible. It's part of society. The correct thing to do is ditch everything and start from scratch. Build a new internet, new protocols, that use mandatory encryption for every action. The military already does that, but civilians are stuck with the shitty version of the internet.

  2. Why [cisco|intel|...$USBRAND] gives $NOTUSA and it by getuid() · · Score: 5, Insightful

    1. There most likely are "kill switches" in $USBRAND equipment.

    2. ... That even close inspections miss.

    3. Back doors are already being used for data snooping.

    4. The rollout of 5G wireless networks will make everything worse.

    5. US firms will ship tech to countries wherever the fuck they want regardless of anything else.

    6. $USBRAND isn't immune to US government influence, period.

    I fail to see a problem with Huawei in particular.

  3. Re:Why [cisco|intel|...$USBRAND] gives $NOTUSA and by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    3. Back doors are already being used for data snooping.

    Hell, FRONT doors are already being used for data snooping. Well you clicked "I agree", right?

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  4. Re:More reasons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What US products? We have systematically destroyed 99% of our production capacity for the components that go into cell phones by allowing corporations to fire everyone and move production to other countries which allow workers to be so badly treated that they're slaves in all but name only.

    The only part the USA plays in making a cell phone is some manufacturers assembling the parts here in order to get an "Assembled in the USA" label. We can't make enough of the components for any cell phone to qualify as "Made in the USA".

  5. Re: Cisco routers. by vtcodger · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you ask me, the Europeans would have to be crazy to allow themselves to be overly dependent on any of the US, Russia, North Africa, or the Middle East for fuel to keep warm in Winter. But they are capable of figuring that our for themselves I think.

    --
    You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey
  6. Re: More reasons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Number 8 there is the big one.

    The US could not care less about the actual hardware security, they just want access to the equipment no matter where it is.

    Huawei has systematically refused to provide that access

    So, the US advocates against people using them "for security reasons"