MI6, NSA And Other Spy Agencies Ban Lenovo Laptops Over Hacking Vulnerability
Chinese companies such as Huawei have always been accused of helping the Chinese government in its spying operations. Countries such as the U.S. and U.K. take special measures to ensure that any Huawei equipment being installed is free from all vulnerabilities that can let China spy on them. A new report from the Australian Financial Review claims that top spy agencies like the MI6 and CIA have banned Lenovo machines from their networks over fears that they might contain “back-door” hardware that would aid China’s spying attempts.
Machines produced by the state-backed technology company, which is the largest PC producer in the world, are claimed to have been found in tests by MI5 and GCHQ to have modifications in their circuitry which could allow remote access to the devices without the owners’ knowledge.
If the reports are true, the timing of the ban coincided roughly with Lenovo’s purchase of IBM’s PC business in 2005.
The UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), MI5 and MI6 are all named as participating in the Lenovo ban, as well as the Security Intelligence Organisation and the Secret Intelligence Service in Australia, and the US National Security Agency (NSA).
Lenovo, today voiced its “surprise” at the alleged move and completely denied any fault in its machines.
