FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

Post by rapind » Sun, Nov 27, 2022, 4:14 AM UTC

blindriver wrote: post #88

flumpcakes wrote: post #81

While I have no doubt than basically anything from China is probably backdoored (and to the fault of western countries outsourcing manufacturing for cheap labour), what exactly has Huawei done? How do we know that the Cisco equipment also isn't backdoored and if I send a few malformed TCP packets it opens up its control plane on the receiving port? Compared to the last few decades, it seems like a strong hand banning…

Huawei singlehandedly destroyed Canada's Nortel Networks through espionage and sabotage. The CIA did an analysis and discovered that Huawei was dumping wireless equipment to small wireless providers in areas around US military basis at a loss. At the very least, the ability to disrupt communication of those military bases were easily achievable.

Post by ElFitz » Sun, Nov 27, 2022, 4:16 AM UTC

kelnos wrote: post #138

heavyset_go wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People are taking action now because the West spent decades underestimating China, probably for xenophobic reasons. I'm willing to bet a lot of people assumed they weren't as capable as westerners and now it can't be denied. IMO, it was a classic mistake of underestimating a potential rival while stroking our own egos about how smart, capable and powerful we are in comparison. Reality finally trumped hubris.

It has nothing to do with xenophobia. The Chinese government doesn't play fair, and the West has been letting them get away with it for decades. They take full advantage of open markets available in the rest of the world, but close their markets to outsiders; at best, outsiders can get a piece of the action, but only through the oversight and partial ownership of a local company. The idea that China is still a "devel…

Post by steve76 » Sun, Nov 27, 2022, 4:17 AM UTC

heavyset_go wrote: post #108

flumpcakes wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nortel networks haven't been around for nearly a decade. I've seen lots of news about 5G/Huaewi and 'core networks' only in the recent years in western countries (UK/US mainly). However, I haven't seen anything published that really reflects new risks/major backdoored products. I wouldn't 100% trust anything built in China, but there must be some reason people are only taking action now? Unless it's just "better late…

People are taking action now because the West spent decades underestimating China, probably for xenophobic reasons. I'm willing to bet a lot of people assumed they weren't as capable as westerners and now it can't be denied. IMO, it was a classic mistake of underestimating a potential rival while stroking our own egos about how smart, capable and powerful we are in comparison. Reality finally trumped hubris.

Post by steve76 » Sun, Nov 27, 2022, 4:28 AM UTC

flumpcakes wrote: post #163

ScoobleDoodle wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you think Lenovo laptops are back door’s too?

I am typing on one now, but I wouldn't trust them to be used in any national security situation. Unfortunately we are beholden to autocratic countries as we have chosen cheap labour over everything else.

Post by katbyte » Sun, Nov 27, 2022, 4:41 AM UTC

charcircuit wrote: post #146

vorpalhex wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's incorrect. You can buy pre-approved modem setups, eg the esp32.

Nope, he is right. If you use that chip you have to get it certified because the traces on the PCB can cause EM interference. Changing the housing of the product can also chance the EM interference so you have to get it recertified before you can sell it. The FCC is a massive regulatory moat against hobbyist electronics. You have to make something expensive enough or with enough scale to make enough profit to be able…