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BBC: A "flaw" in Huawei Matebook laptops, found by Microsoft researchers, could have been used to take control of machines

CyberPanda

Banned
The "sophisticated flaw" had probably been introduced at the manufacturing stage, one expert told BBC News.

Huawei is under increasing scrutiny around the world over how closely it is tied to the Chinese government.

The company, which denies any collusion with Beijing, corrected the flaw after it was notified about it in January.

Prof Alan Woodward, a computer security expert based at Surrey University, told BBC News the flaw had the hallmarks of a "backdoor" created by the US's National Security Agency to spy on the computers of targets.

That tool was leaked online and has been used by a wide variety of hackers, including those who are state-sponsored and criminal gangs.

"It was introduced at the manufacture stage but the path by which it came to be there is unknown and the fact that it looks like an exploit that is linked to the NSA doesn't mean anything," Prof Woodward said.

"It could be organised crime gangs, which are increasingly interfering with the supply chain, or it could be someone playing geo-politics to discredit Huawei.

"There is no evidence that the company has done anything malicious or any evidence they were under pressure from the state."

The question remains, however, according to Prof Woodward: "How did the software engineering processes allow this on?

"This is not going to help their case or reduce people's concerns," he said.

The British intelligence community last week said that it could offer only "limited assurances" that long-term security risks from Huawei could be managed.

Prof Woodward said: "Huawei is critical to 5G, which in turn will be critical to a whole range of things, including future cities and autonomous cars.

"Disrupting this network could cause huge disruptions to society and I can see why people are worried about Huawei supplying this technology.

"They are headquartered in a country that has coercive laws and has made it clear that companies have to co-operate with the government and keep that secret."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-47800000
 

Barakov

Gold Member
That makes me want to buy a Huawei laptop and then install the Epic store client on it.
Sapd.jpg
 

Deft Beck

Member
Many outlets reviewed the Matebook X Pro well, but I was reluctant to buy from that manufacturer.

...Given, I did go with a Lenovo Thinkpad.
 

Pejo

Member
I have no informed opinion here, but the fact that they're called Matebooks made me laugh.
 

V4skunk

Banned
All electronic devices that are internet capable and manufactured in China, have back door access built in to the actual hardware.
If the Chinese wanted they could brick or use a lot of electronics for spying.
 
'could'. No proof it was ever used in such a way.

Keep in mind that Microsoft is working in tandem with US government which is working actively to smear Huawei, against whom its companies can no longer compete. Don't believe his lies on the basis of could. We need more evidence. All prior claims regarding Huawei were debunked by an EU-wide investigation. This is just another claim.
 
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Kenpachii

Member
'could'. No proof it was ever used in such a way.

Keep in mind that Microsoft is working in tandem with US government which is working actively to smear Huawei, against whom its companies can no longer compete. Don't believe his lies on the basis of could. We need more evidence. All prior claims regarding Huawei were debunked by an EU-wide investigation. This is just another claim.

Only smear campaign any country needs is that it has close ties with china. Nothing else.
 

Cunth

Fingerlickin' Good!
Using any product from a Chinese company is just volunteering your persona info to their government
 
As a non american, If I have to choose between getting spied on by China or America id choose China because I don't go there and I don't need to be worried about being extracted for breaching copyright or angering a megacorp.
 
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As a non american, If I have to choose between getting spied on by China or America id choose China because I don't go there and I don't need to be worried about being extracted for breaching copyright or angering a megacorp.

Not to mention that China doesn't operate CIA run blacksite prisons across Europe and South America, kidnapping foreign citizens. America does.
 
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JLB

Banned
Not to mention that China doesn't operate CIA run blacksite prisons across Europe and South America, kidnapping foreign citizens. America does.

Offtopic, but at the same time, China is a dictatorship that has committed the worst imaginable crimes to its own citizens.
 
Yes, welcome to the 1960's.

America literally genocided an entire continent and enslaved millions of Africans. Today's China is like a panda. Big, cute and it can fuck you up if you poke it in the eye repeatedly.
 
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