Huawei ... spying on us or not ?

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Mark

1492 posts

Uber Geek

# 99857 28-Mar-2012 21:22

So what is the opinion around here about Huawei ? Anyone think they build spyware into their products ? Or is it just a case of them being a chinese mega corporation that has painted them with the "evil" brush ?

Me personally ... I think given the chance the chinese government would love to engineer in backdoors and spyware to products going out to the foreigners! :-) Just not sure yet if they have.

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1288 posts

Uber Geek

# 601579 28-Mar-2012 21:36

All countries conduct espionage, including our own. It's not practical to exclude products or businesses because they might do something dodgy.

---
James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

# 601582 28-Mar-2012 21:38

Over reaction

robertsona

101 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

# 601588 28-Mar-2012 21:55

What communications or IT equipment isn't manufactured by a Chinese company?!

lucky015

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 601598 28-Mar-2012 22:05

sleemanj: All countries conduct espionage, including our own. It's not practical to exclude products or businesses because they might do something dodgy.

+1

It is entirely likely that China is spying on us as well as everyone else however I find it unlikely that Huawei is or that China is doing it via Huawei.

Even if they are we are we may as well just use their cheap services anyway.

We sell out to the highest bidder so why not the telecommunications manufacturer with the cheapest price? Probably save more using their tech than they would have to pay in outright "Donation" to get all our info shared with them anyway.

(That's assuming their core network equipment is priced as comparatively to others as their other devices)

Bung

3024 posts

Uber Geek

# 601624 28-Mar-2012 22:50

If you send a postcard you expect the postie to read it. If you have a real secret shouldn't it be encrypted?

If Huawei can guarantee that their network will only stop working when the secret switch is thrown that would be better than some other suppliers.

kyhwana2

2459 posts

Uber Geek

# 601625 28-Mar-2012 22:53

Except the US (via Echelon/etc) already has all those back doors in all the kit we use. Look up "Lawful Intercept".

old3eyes

8210 posts

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Subscriber

# 601708 29-Mar-2012 08:57

johnr: Over reaction

Agreed. I think the Greens saw a press release out of Australia and jumped on the band wagon..

Regards,

Old3eyes

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 601713 29-Mar-2012 09:08

We are more likely being spied on by Apple devices, with the US govt.

I'm not worried about Huawei one bit, and I think Australia are overreacting

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Kiwipixter

246 posts

Master Geek

# 601727 29-Mar-2012 09:52

We all geeks are probably to young to remember tiananmen square, we probably to naive to know that some Huawei board members are part of the Chinese communist government. Whilst we geeks are up and arms about "Skynet" law, we probably forgotten that the Chinese government monitors and controls all Internet activities coming in and out of China and have jailed/executed people for committing activities we take for granted here.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

# 601733 29-Mar-2012 10:01

old3eyes:
johnr: Over reaction

?

Agreed. ?I think the Greens saw a press release out of Australia and jumped on the band wagon..

Well that answers that the Green party has gone down the tubes!

kiwitrc

4123 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

# 601753 29-Mar-2012 10:32

Kiwipixter: We all geeks are probably to young to remember tiananmen square, we probably to naive to know that some Huawei board members are part of the Chinese communist government. Whilst we geeks are up and arms about "Skynet" law, we probably forgotten that the Chinese government monitors and controls all Internet activities coming in and out of China and have jailed/executed people for committing activities we take for granted here.

Sorry I must have missed the memo, what is the maximum age to be a geek?

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 601776 29-Mar-2012 10:51

kiwitrc:
Sorry I must have missed the memo, what is the maximum age to be a geek?

Think I've missed the same one, oh well. Time to sell all my gadgets, and start using my walking frame again!

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

maverick

3594 posts

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Trusted

WorldxChange

# 601817 29-Mar-2012 11:29

johnr: Over reaction

As always John,

Just ruin the truth by giving it to the media, or the conspiracy theory guys

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

Lurch

1054 posts

Uber Geek

# 601868 29-Mar-2012 12:26

sleemanj: All countries conduct espionage, including our own. It's not practical to exclude products or businesses because they might do something dodgy.

Hardware/brands are being excluded in various places all the time. ;-) Many Governments will only use (as an example) American built computer hardware which are made on a highly secure production line.

I'd say the threat is real, although it's not a risk at this point. One just has to put in place safe guards and monitor what is happening.

surfisup1000

4403 posts

Uber Geek

# 601884 29-Mar-2012 12:45

Mark: So what is the opinion around here about Huawei ? Anyone think they build spyware into their products ? Or is it just a case of them being a chinese mega corporation that has painted them with the "evil" brush ?

Me personally ... I think given the chance the chinese government would love to engineer in backdoors and spyware to products going out to the foreigners! :-) Just not sure yet if they have.

Not so much a chinese mega-corp as they are the Chinese Government.

I'd tend to believe the Aussies and the US experts over the under resourced kiwis.

Whats to stop Huawei incorporating a remotely programmable control chips into their gear? This could be accessed via cryptographic keys.

China is still a communist country. If the experts are saying this is a risk then who am I to differ?

Too many armchair experts in this country.

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