The Times of UK, founded in 1785 with 1.6 million daily readers, has published a 2 part investigation into Hikvision's government control:
Two key quotes from the Times reporting:
Hikvision, a company controlled by the Chinese government
Hikvision grew out of China’s military surveillance wing and several high-ranking executives continue to hold positions in the Communist Party.
This is consistent with what IPVM has reported, such as Hikvision Chinese Government Origin, Hikvision and the China Communist Party, Hikvision Exec Simultaneously Chinese Government Security Leader.
Additionally, IPVM was one of the sources and was quoted in one of the reports.
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Comments (123)
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Brilliant
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Geoff Gritton
I was told about the article from a partner and came here straight away. You didn't disappoint
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John Honovich
And the BBC has picked this up:
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Craig Paisley
currently talking about it now live on radio 2
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Undisclosed #2
Wait wait wait... does this mean IPVM is no longer the National Enquirer of our industry?
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Undisclosed Integrator #3
This great news prices should drop even lower
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Showed the paper with headline to a Hikvision customer this morning and he said:
"Yeah but The Times is a very British paper though eh? There's nowt wrong with Hikvision, I've sold three systems this morning"
This will change nothing at the low to mid end, hope I'm wrong though.
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Undisclosed Integrator #4
So what? Support the democratic chinese citizens.
NSA is monitoring all network activities anyway. Disconnect your surveillance network from the Internet and you are free !
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
Any chance this will be part of the 2016 Presidential debate? If anyone is attending, ask them if they are aware
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Undisclosed Integrator #7
Would there be a benefit to switching to one of the rebranded versions of Hik, such as Interlogix for security purposes? Do they alter the firmware in such a way that if there was a backdoor or other security risk that it could be disrupted?
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Undisclosed #8
Now all we need to do is actually find that backdoor...
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Edward Knoch
Sooooo - wouldn't this be a BETTER time to go after Federal Contracting Officers who blatantly violate BAA and TAA and trample underfoot the Federal Regulations for Chinese Procurement. I still haven't heard back from the procurement officer on my secondary email.
I think I'll throw this article link directly at them to "open their eyes a little".
Thanks John
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Undisclosed #8
John Honovich is the Bob Woodward of Hika-gate!
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Undisclosed Integrator #5
How many Hikvision employees are being forced to cancel their accounts today?
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Jon Dillabaugh
09/16/16 10:48pm
I hope all integrators in my vicinity immediately cease selling Hikvision....
So I can be the only one busy as hell installing quality systems at a great value to my clients. I will worry about them being able to "phone home" or snoop the LAN.
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Undisclosed Integrator #3
Is any of this doom and gloom factually substantiated. I don't mean whether or not Hikvision has any connection to the Chinese government. That apparently is fact but rather has any malicious code or back doors actually been found in any Hik products. In some installations caution would be advisable but I don't really think it would stop me from installing in a supermarket or a restaurant. In the worse case scenario been pushed here I'm not particularly worried that someone in China can see how much someone is selling bananas for or whether table 5 is ready for their main course. The same installations probably have bugger all security on their own PCs and phones anyway. Personally I'd be more concerned about who is going to be the next POTUS. That is is more of a security concern for the whole world.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #13
I'm not so much a conspiracy theorist but there are always possibilities.
How about 10 million devices doing a continuous storm across the known gateway address? Would that create some issues on government, banking, retail, home networks?
Let's say Black Friday? Let's face it, DMV is slow enough!
Snooping is an issue, mapping a network and sending that info is another, Denial of Service is something else and finally becoming a tool to pass malicious code can be a problem.
How many have to happen at once?
As a side note, why????
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/china-bars-top-us-technology-firms-from-government-list/2015/02/26/ebd4282c-bda1-11e4-9dfb-03366e719af8_story.html
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John Honovich
The Australian has run an article, "China funded Hikvision’s CCTV with eyes across globe"
I am quoted in it (as I was interviewed for the original Times story). One error was made in quoting me as saying "Lots of consultants in the US won’t sell it". Obviously consultants specify, not sell. I have asked the Australian / Times to correct that.
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Undisclosed #2
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #15
Also Corriere Della Sera in Italy has picked up the story.
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Undisclosed Integrator #3
Just saw "Snowden" at the movies. As for all this paranoia about red's under the bed with Hikvision. I think that horse has already bolted with the NSA on its back. If and its only an if, the Chinese government are planning some covert hacking operation they may actually catch up to what the NSA has been doing for years.
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Samantha Bamford
Amazing!
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #16
Maybe this is a not just about MI6, spying loop holes or a communist invasion but instead this debate comes on the back of a UK Govt agreement with China over nuclear power. Maybe this is a about economics, trade agreements and the fact that cheap products are being sold at below cost to undercut and destroy European, US and Japanese companies that employ moral business ethics and protect workers rights etc
Maybe its fair enough we support private enterprise in China without too many restrictions but when that enterprise itself 'is' the countries own government and that company 'is' directly related to 'Security' then the free market rules can no longer apply and government control and regulation is required to protect local business and commercial interests, as well as security and safety.
In any other industries the same would apply - if the Chinese government flooded the market with cheap PCs or cars and distributors, dealerships and consumers stopped buying Dell and Ford - I am certain questions would need to asked at a Federal level. In fact these regulations are probably already in place.
And as part of this debate maybe it is about time we start applying regulation to ensure security equipment meets agreed standards for certain applications - such as Police, Rail, Ports etc irrelevant of the country of manufacture. We don't really care what people put in their house or local gas stations but it seems the UK they put this equipment in areas related to their critical infrastructure.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #17
Would like to see Washington Post or NY Times, WSJ get involved in the conversation or a major network news channel.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/chinese-supply-cctv-cameras-britain-sparks-security-concerns-1581595
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Undisclosed End User #18
Are the same checks and balances - or lack of - applied to their network equipment Companies like Hauwei are global giants as well
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
I would think The Times approached Dahua and other Chinese brands for comment before the release of the article on Friday morning, hence Dahua's strong denial coming out days beforehand.
While I'm really glad it's happened - I do think it was unfairly focused on Hikvision. If The US government can approach Apple and request them to undertake underhand things then I can only imagine what is going on in China between these other brands and the government there with the human rights record they have, and the threat of 'escalation'.
I strongly expect that now the focus has been placed here then the other brands (Dahua, UNV etc.) will get a name-check in subsequent follow-up pieces.
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Undisclosed #25
For those of you (like Jon) who think their understanding of networking protocols and security can actually protect against interested governments from snooping on their stuff, please read the excerpt below.... it refers to the work of Tsutomo Shimomura (whom you might remember was the one who helped the feds track down Kevin Mitnick in 1995 after Mitnick hacked into his personal machine). His work has been funded by both the US Air Force and the NSA.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Genuine Question
If the others - UNV & Dahua - are 'clean' ...how are they managing to match keep pace and match Hikvision's pricing levels?
Depending on the answer; 2nd question - are they sustainable long-term businesses if they don't have access to the same government funding?
NOTICE: This comment has been moved to its own discussion: How Are Dahua And UNV Managing To Match Keep Pace And Match Hikvision's Pricing Levels?
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Undisclosed #23
Hikvision UK GM has conducted an interview with a UK trade magazine denying control by the Chinese government.
We will do a full post in a few days but wanted to reference it here for those interested right away.
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