Lenovo PC's from China...Security risk?

[evil316]

I didn't realize that Lenovo PC's are made by a company in China.

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/4372/53/

[mellowd]

So what? A ton of stuff is made in China. How is it a security risk?

[LaRoza]

Lenovo is a Chinese company. They now own the ThinkCenter and ThinkPad lines from IBM and a few other technologies from IBM.

Given the Chinese suspected cyber attacks/tests, I think the US's move makes sense.

After all, American Xerox machines were used to help spy on the Soviets.

[evil316]

I believe that China is already using their own companies to assist in spying. It doesn't require a stretch to believe it. Like mentioned above, the US did it years ago.

[mellowd]

It's paranoia gone mad

[evil316]

paranoia or practical security practice? I say practical security practice. I'm convinced the US is already doing it in a lot of countries and China is really our main spy advisary right now and I'm sure they do it too.

[Seti]

Are you implying that they can somehow manufacture Thinkpads in such a way to include software (and maybe even firmware) that can be used as a backdoor?

As far as products in general being made abroad, yeah, that certainly limits manufacturing jobs from being created here.

[evil316]

Yes I am implying that.

[LaRoza]

Are you implying that they can somehow manufacture Thinkpads in such a way to include software (and maybe even firmware) that can be used as a backdoor?

As far as products in general being made abroad, yeah, that certainly limits manufacturing jobs from being created here.

If video camera's that transmit images can be embedded in Soviet photocopiers, who knows what can be in computers?

[popch]

Are you implying that they can somehow manufacture Thinkpads in such a way to include software (and maybe even firmware) that can be used as a backdoor?

As far as products in general being made abroad, yeah, that certainly limits manufacturing jobs from being created here.

Why has the article mentioned in the OP become interesting after some 18 months after its publication date?

And how is a PC manufactured by the Chinese more threatening to the security of most countries than one made by corporations in the USA? Especially given that the US made PCs and their components have been made abroad for quite some while?

[evil316]

Why has the article mentioned in the OP become interesting after some 18 months after its publication date?

And how is a PC manufactured by the Chinese more threatening to the security of most countries than one made by corporations in the USA? Especially given that the US made PCs and their components have been made abroad for quite some while?

China has more technical savy that most countries but certainly computers made here in the US pose the same sort of individual risk as those made abroad. Those made abroad obviously pose more of a risk to our national defense.

[popch]

China has more technical savy that most countries but certainly computers made here in the US pose the same sort of individual risk as those made abroad. Those made abroad obviously pose more of a risk to our national defense.

Um, yes. I take it, then, that you live in the USA?

You see, I do not, and I am somewhat accustomed to news reporting of backdoors and other finery decreed by US authorities in computers made by US suppliers.

Which we then are supposed to buy 'abroads'.

[KiwiNZ]

Yeah I can see how getting hold of Jane and Bob from the midwest email is of strategic value to China:rolleyes:

[popch]

Yeah I can see how getting hold of Jane and Bob from the midwest email is of strategic value to China:rolleyes:

While a PC in a government or defense agency refusing to work at a strategically chosen moment is not?

[evil316]

Yeah I can see how getting hold of Jane and Bob from the midwest email is of strategic value to China:rolleyes:


The risk is to that of national security from the viewpoint of an American citizen (me). Bulk sales are made to governments all the time. As the article points out a huge portion of the IT sales for any company is government sector sales. Data mining is big these days whether undertaken by governments or private companies for sales purposes.

As for American products being unsecured or having backdoors put in on purpose I'm quite certain that happens and that's why it's becoming increasingly important in my opinion to be very careful where governments are buying IT equipment. It's also becoming important where individuals are buying computer equipment not so much from a government spying aspect but from the aspect a company putting data mining software on your IT equipment.

[ezphilosophy]

China has more technical savy that most countries.

Um... from what I know, it's the opposite (at least compared to countries that manufacture something "tech")

[evil316]

Um... from what I know, it's the opposite (at least compared to countries that manufacture something "tech")

And most countries don't manufacture anything "tech".

[mr.propre]

I guess that for some people with important security jobs like the NSA, CIA, ... that this could be a danger.
But for 99,99% of the world its probably safe.

Its kind of funny if you know that its not the Chinese that are watching, but your own government, at least if you live in the USA or the EU. They have laws that allow saving Internet data in name of 'security'.

Better don't download to many porn :lolflag:

[Pethegreat]

I can understand the government's worry. We got lead paint in toys from china. I don't think you would like to be using something that your rival made.

Buying US built computers does help with giving some people employment, and you can trace the source of the computers better.


They have laws that allow saving Internet data in name of 'security'.
They better be backing up all the porn on the internet.