Intel lightly hits back at China's accusations it bakes in NSA backdoors
(2024/10/18)
- Reference: 1729229533
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/10/18/intel_china_security_allegations/
- Source link:
Intel has responded to Chinese claims that its chips include security backdoors at the direction of America's NSA.
The accusations were made earlier this week from industry group the [1]Cybersecurity Association of China (CSAC) which alleged Chipzilla had embedded a backdoor "in almost all" of its CPUs since 2008 as part of a "next-generation security defense system."
The association also claimed Intel's products often include exploitable vulnerabilities and have high failure rates.
[2]
"Intel's major defects in product quality and security management show its extremely irresponsible attitude towards customers," alleged the group.
[3]
[4]
The CSAC called for a cybersecurity review of Intel's products in China to protect national security and consumer rights, given Intel's dominant market share. A quarter of Chipzilla's revenue last year came from the Middle Kingdom.
On Thursday, Intel took used its account on Chinese social network WeChat account to say:
We have noted the relevant media reports.
As a multinational company with nearly 40 years of operations in China, Intel strictly abides by the laws and regulations applicable to its business locations.
Intel always puts product safety and quality first and has been actively working with customers and the industry to ensure product safety and quality. We will maintain communication with relevant departments to clarify relevant questions and demonstrate our firm commitment to product safety and quality.
Which responds to the claims of vulnerabilities and poor quality, but doesn't quite address the backdoor allegations.
[5]China's infosec leads accuse Intel of NSA backdoor, cite chip security flaws
[6]PC shipments stuck in neutral despite AI buzz
[7]Intel lets go of 2,000 staff at Oregon R&D site, offices in Texas, Arizona, California
[8]If you're holding important data, Iran is probably trying spearphish it
Also on Thursday, China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) turned to its WeChat to [9]caution against cyber security threats.
This week the ministry has also [10]warned that AI poses risks to state security and that an unnamed foreign entity has been [11]illegally obtaining raw surveying and mapping data of China through a smart car collaboration with a domestic org.
[12]
The accusations follow escalating tensions between the US and China over cyber security, with the US previously accusing Chinese spies of breaching critical American infrastructure. US sanctions have also restricted the export of advanced chips to China, aimed at limiting development of Beijing's military capabilities. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/16/china_intel_chip_security/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZxIxyNFJjItPH3TcefBK8wAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
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[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/16/china_intel_chip_security/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/10/pc_market_gartner_canalys/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/16/intel_layoffs/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/30/iran_spearphishing/
[9] https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3282760/china-spy-agency-warns-growing-cybersecurity-threats-amid-call-intel-review
[10] https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202410/1321263.shtml
[11] https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202410/1321327.shtml
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZxIxyNFJjItPH3TcefBK8wAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The accusations were made earlier this week from industry group the [1]Cybersecurity Association of China (CSAC) which alleged Chipzilla had embedded a backdoor "in almost all" of its CPUs since 2008 as part of a "next-generation security defense system."
The association also claimed Intel's products often include exploitable vulnerabilities and have high failure rates.
[2]
"Intel's major defects in product quality and security management show its extremely irresponsible attitude towards customers," alleged the group.
[3]
[4]
The CSAC called for a cybersecurity review of Intel's products in China to protect national security and consumer rights, given Intel's dominant market share. A quarter of Chipzilla's revenue last year came from the Middle Kingdom.
On Thursday, Intel took used its account on Chinese social network WeChat account to say:
We have noted the relevant media reports.
As a multinational company with nearly 40 years of operations in China, Intel strictly abides by the laws and regulations applicable to its business locations.
Intel always puts product safety and quality first and has been actively working with customers and the industry to ensure product safety and quality. We will maintain communication with relevant departments to clarify relevant questions and demonstrate our firm commitment to product safety and quality.
Which responds to the claims of vulnerabilities and poor quality, but doesn't quite address the backdoor allegations.
[5]China's infosec leads accuse Intel of NSA backdoor, cite chip security flaws
[6]PC shipments stuck in neutral despite AI buzz
[7]Intel lets go of 2,000 staff at Oregon R&D site, offices in Texas, Arizona, California
[8]If you're holding important data, Iran is probably trying spearphish it
Also on Thursday, China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) turned to its WeChat to [9]caution against cyber security threats.
This week the ministry has also [10]warned that AI poses risks to state security and that an unnamed foreign entity has been [11]illegally obtaining raw surveying and mapping data of China through a smart car collaboration with a domestic org.
[12]
The accusations follow escalating tensions between the US and China over cyber security, with the US previously accusing Chinese spies of breaching critical American infrastructure. US sanctions have also restricted the export of advanced chips to China, aimed at limiting development of Beijing's military capabilities. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/16/china_intel_chip_security/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZxIxyNFJjItPH3TcefBK8wAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZxIxyNFJjItPH3TcefBK8wAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZxIxyNFJjItPH3TcefBK8wAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/16/china_intel_chip_security/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/10/pc_market_gartner_canalys/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/16/intel_layoffs/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/30/iran_spearphishing/
[9] https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3282760/china-spy-agency-warns-growing-cybersecurity-threats-amid-call-intel-review
[10] https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202410/1321263.shtml
[11] https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202410/1321327.shtml
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZxIxyNFJjItPH3TcefBK8wAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Typical
IamAProton
As if it's not S.C.O.P. (standard communist operating procedure) to "blame back" when you are accused (and guilty) of something; sometimes they might even be right, but if you do it every single time it gets old really fast.
Most likely it's internal-propaganda material for the state controlled media.
On a side note, I hope Intel used WeChat from a computer not connected to any sensitive network, ideally from a fastfood or coffeshop "across the street" ;-)
harrys
jeez you never refute lies with the truth
didnt the new generation of youngies ever read orwell at school
conspiracy fodder.
Anonymous Coward
That'll fan the flames, there have been all sorts of idiot conspiracy theories over the years about Intel chips, including claims that one generation included 3G surveillance tech in the CPU, usually based on technically illiterate readings of intel press releases.
Not that I'd be surprised at all if the NSA have backdoor access to all sorts of tech.
NSA Backdoors
Mishak
Not chip level, but [1]the NSA do (did?) run an "upgrade factory" .
[1] https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/05/photos-of-an-nsa-upgrade-factory-show-cisco-router-getting-implant/
What goes around comes around
You can't blacklist Huawei on grounds of Beijing snooping and expect China to not respond in kind.
I don't think Intel is backing backdoors in its products, but I am not surprised that China is using that line of attack.