An American tech company is being sued after allegedly deceiving customers about “serious security risks” associated with its video surveillance cameras, raising concerns about the use of Chinese-made technology.
Resideo, a spin-off company from Honeywell, allegedly deceived its customers by selling American consumers Chinese-manufactured security cameras that the US government has “repeatedly identified as posing national-security and cybersecurity risks.”
The tech company, which operates under its ADI Global Distribution business, has positioned itself as a “safe, secure, and comfortable” solution for customers.
However, Nebraskan Attorney General Michael Hilgers has filed a lawsuit against Resideo, claiming that the company marketed and sold security cameras created by Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology (Hikvision) and Zhejiang Dahua Technology (Dahua).
The US government has flagged these companies for posing a serious threat to US national security, the news release reads.
“Hikvision and Dahua have been subject to federal restrictions and sanctions due to their involvement in human-rights abuses and persistent cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Congress and the Federal Communications Commission have determined that surveillance equipment produced by these companies presents unacceptable risks to national security, including the risk of unauthorized access to video and audio feeds.”
Despite being aware of these “unacceptable risks,” ADI has repeatedly marketed Hikvision and Dahua security cameras as secure and high-performance products suitable for homes, schools, businesses, and healthcare institutions.
“ADI failed to disclose the significant security risks associated with these products, leaving consumers unaware that the cameras they installed to protect private spaces could instead expose them to surveillance and exploitation,” the news release from Attorney General Mike Hilgers reads.
These alleged security risks include vulnerabilities such as embedded backdoors, remote access flaws, and other weaknesses that may facilitate hacking or unauthorized access to obtain live and recorded footage.
“Nebraskans install security cameras to protect their families, homes, and businesses – not to invite hidden surveillance into the most private parts of their lives. Selling cameras with known security risks while marketing them as ‘secure’ is deceptive and dangerous. That kind of conduct will not be tolerated in Nebraska,” said Attorney General Michael Hilgers.
Governments agree they can’t trust Chinese tech
Much of the tech we use is manufactured in China, but some low-quality or budget tech solutions might not be as secure as we think.
Cybernews has previously reported just how insecure Chinese technology can be.
The UK Ministry of Defence reportedly placed warnings in electric cars from China, banning staff and troops from discussing sensitive information amid spying fears.
Stickers urging passengers to “avoid conversations above official within vehicle” appeared on dashboards of electric vehicles (EVs) leased by the ministry, many of which are manufactured by China’s state-owned Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.
The MoD is believed to have already banned some electric vehicles with China-made components from sensitive military bases due to espionage concerns. These concerns aren’t unfounded, as security researchers have also raised the alarm about Chinese-made tech.
For example, a security researcher from Slovenia found that budget devices used for remotely managing hardware posed serious security risks.
Dr. Matej Kovačič found that the popular NanoKVM contained a hidden microphone, along with hacking tools and dangerous exploits that would make exploitation trivial.
Furthermore, the US government voted to finalize rules that banned Chinese labs from testing imported tech as it posed a significant risk to national security.
The government deemed that all electronics used in the United States must go through the Federal Communications Commission’s equipment authorization process before they can be imported.
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