- Questions raised about Chinese espionage through the influx of cars built by China
- Trips and location, text messages and documents that are said to be at risk
- Connect a phone to a Chinese car has been compared to the use of an unknown USB
The United Kingdom Government and military personnel have been warned about security concerns around the use of cars built in Chinese, according to reports from Paper i.
For example, RAF Wyton personnel have received instructions from Cars Park built with Chinese components at least two miles from the installation due to concerns about the surveillance of satin attacks and sensors.
Warnings also cover the connections between Chinese built cars and telephone numbers of their conductors, including Bluetooth connections and even the phone load through the cable.
Chinese cars are under investigation
In addition to detecting the location and surroundings, microphones in certain cars could be used to scarce by the Chinese state. As such, the personnel are noticed not to connect mobile phones with Chinese manufacturing cars or discuss the work within them, with the main defense firms such as BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Thales, according to reports, taking protection measures.
The concern is that there is the potential that cars harvest trips, text messages, voicemail and confidential documents, and a phone has been compared in a car with connecting an unknown USB unit to a work computer.
Chinese electric cars in particular have become incredibly popular in the United Kingdom in recent years, often undermining established brands and offering similar levels of quality and standard equipment. However, not only Chinese brands have been affected by accusations: other brands that use Chinese components are also at risk of possible protection measures.
Some cybersecurity experts say that the concerns are valid given China’s espionage story. The National Intelligence Law also requires that Chinese companies help state intelligence, therefore, espionage through cars is completely plausible. However, on the other hand, there has not yet a generalized espionage through cars.
Mike Hawes, leader of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Merchants, said: “All manufacturers with cars for sale in the United Kingdom must comply with the relevant regulations on the privacy of the data, and the EVs are not different.”
