Backdoor Found In China-Made US Military Chip? 270
Hugh Pickens writes "Information Age reports that the Cambridge University researchers have discovered that a microprocessor used by the US military but made in China contains secret remote access capability, a secret 'backdoor' that means it can be shut off or reprogrammed without the user knowing. The 'bug' is in the actual chip itself, rather than the firmware installed on the devices that use it. This means there is no way to fix it than to replace the chip altogether. 'The discovery of a backdoor in a military grade chip raises some serious questions about hardware assurance in the semiconductor industry,' writes Cambridge University researcher Sergei Skorobogatov. 'It also raises some searching questions about the integrity of manufacturers making claims about [the] security of their products without independent testing.' The unnamed chip, which the researchers claim is widely used in military and industrial applications, is 'wide open to intellectual property theft, fraud and reverse engineering of the design to allow the introduction of a backdoor or Trojan', Does this mean that the Chinese have control of our military information infrastructure asks Rupert Goodwins? 'No: it means that one particular chip has an undocumented feature. An unfortunate feature, to be sure, to find in a secure system — but secret ways in have been built into security systems for as long as such systems have existed.'" Even though this story has been blowing-up on Twitter, there are a few caveats. The backdoor doesn't seem to have been confirmed by anyone else, Skorobogatov is a little short on details, and he is trying to sell the scanning technology used to uncover the vulnerability.
Steve Jobs (Score:3, Funny)
samzenpus will be looking for a new job soon (Score:3, Funny)
Even though this story has been blowing-up on Twitter, there are a few caveats. The backdoor doesn't seem to have been confirmed by anyone else, Skorobogatov is a little short on details, and he is trying to sell the scanning technology used to uncover the vulnerability.
Hey hey HEY! You stop that right this INSTANT, samzenpus! This is Slashdot! We'll have none of your "actual investigative research" nonsense around here! Fear mongering to sell ad space, mister, and that's ALL! Now get back to work! We need more fluffy space-filling articles like that one about the minor holiday labeling bug Microsoft had in the UK! That's what we want to see more of!
Re:Should only buy military components from allies (Score:3, Funny)
The US military should have a strict policy of only buying military parts from sovereign, free, democratic countries with a long history of friendship, such as Israel, Canada, Europe, Japan and South Korea.
Didn't the US and UK governments sell crypto equipment they knew they could break to their 'allies' during the Cold War?
Re:Fear mongering (Score:4, Funny)
Just because they're really out to get you doesn't mean you're not paranoid.
Are you as think as I drunk you are?
I never did trust ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Should only buy military components from allies (Score:2, Funny)
...Once the Germans were warlike and mean,
But that couldn't happen again...
We taught them a lesson in 1918
And they've hardly bother us since then...
-- Tom Lerher, The MLF Lullaby
Re:Fear mongering (Score:4, Funny)
I'm not as think as some drunkle peep I am.
Re:Should only buy military components from allies (Score:4, Funny)
Wow. I didn't realize the Canadians were so good at spying.
Oh Canada!
Re:Steve Jobs (Score:3, Funny)
"I have to complain about this moderation."
You're funny!
And I modded him Funny... Oh, Crap....