Posted on 05/02/2018 9:13:33 PM PDT by bitt
The Pentagon has ordered all stores on U.S. military bases worldwide to ban mobile phones and other telecommunications equipment made by the Chinese companies Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and ZTE Corp. after senior U.S. intelligence officials warned the phones could be used to spy on Americans and U.S. service members.
The products were removed from exchange service stores and exchange concessionaires worldwide following warnings from top U.S. intelligence officials and lawmakers that Chinese mobile phones could track movements of the military.
In a statement, the Pentagon said, “Huawei and ZTE devices may pose an unacceptable risk to the Department’s personnel, information and mission. In light of this information, it was not prudent for the Department’s stores to continue selling them.”
Officials told Fox News the Pentagon also recently terminated its use of BlackBerry smartphones, and now issues Apple iPhones, which also are assembled in China.
Maj. Dave Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, told Fox News: “For security reasons, I can’t get into the technical aspects of potential threats.”
He added that, “The department is evaluating the situation and will determine the necessity of issuing additional guidance.”
Fox News previously reported in February that the Senate Intelligence Committee held a hearing on global terror threats attended by the directors of the CIA, the FBI and the National Security Agency.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
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I would worry more about Chinese laptop (knockoff) batteries.
Mitch McConnell is NOT going to like this!
Worry more about the Cisco stuff made overseas. You’re already screwed.
the Pentagon also recently terminated its use of BlackBerry smartphones, and now issues Apple iPhones, which also are assembled in China
That'll fix it./s
I think the major issue is firmware updates, which are issued by vendors and can have “phone home” instructions incorporated into them.
Around 2015, I read a piece that said around 80-percent of all smart-phones are manufactured in China, and the number was increasing year by year. I don’t see where this Pentagon effort will go. It’s only affecting phones sold on post/base. I suspect that most service members buy their phones from off-base shops.
Yet there will still be places where bringing any cell phone is prohibited.
I think the Pentagon should merely inform its own to refrain from discussing classified matters over the phone, and avoid purchasing those phones.
It’s not about message traffic; the hazard is geolocation. OPSEC is impossible when COMSEC is compromised. The digital footprint of US forces gives a clear operational picture of troop movements.
I think that would be a problem only when troops are carrying those phones. It makes no difference if my mother is carrying one since she will not be in a war zone. Therefore, I think the Pentagon should advise their troops not to purchase those phones rather than the stores which sell to the general public.
Hey, what ever happened to "build American, buy American". Prohibit critical infrastructure from being made in China in the first place. Our Nation is self-destructing in the name of the dollar. Just stop that shit.
People like cheap junk. “Buy American” is a nice slogan, but most corporations and politicians are globalists. The military could restrict personal communication like they did since the nation’s founding, but today’s perfumed princes can’t even tell the difference between a hole and a rod.
Outsourcing our material and intellectual property to our enemies has become unremarkable and the threats are incalculable. People worry about EMP attacks, but imagine if 80% of cells and various other electronic devices received an “update” that bricked them all at the same time. Within one week, half the urban areas would resemble a Mad Max redux.
You are right. However, when you purchase your sophisticated electronics from a sworn enemy, you commit suicide.
Several years ago a number of ham radio operators were purchasing a cheap handy talkie that was made in china. The frequency install info was done with your computer. One man who worked with security systems on computers said that the software for this piece of equipment “lit up” all their security alarms, and whatever bug/trojan that was on it wanted to travel throughout the network.
I’ve been using a HUAWEI and a ASUS computer for years.
Keep those Americans on the plantation. Keep them using only approved equipment. Label anything else a national security threat.
ASUS is made in Taiwan, not China...good tech!
Um, Taiwan IS part of China.
While there is quite a bit of uproar in the states about Taiwan being an independent nation. It is culturally, socially, and economically dependent on China.
All ASUS products are made in Chinese factories in Xiamen.
You all, should hop on a plane and fly out here. It’s acutally quite lovely.
The Taiwanese don’t think they are a part of “Red Communist” China...don’t be a shill for Beijing!
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