Ask HN: Concern over Chinese Software?
Concerns about Chinese software are rising due to U.S.-China tensions, CCP influence, and privacy issues. The author highlights challenges in avoiding Chinese products and seeks strategies to mitigate risks.
The author expresses growing concerns about the use of Chinese software due to geopolitical tensions and privacy issues. They highlight three main reasons for their apprehension: the adversarial relationship between the U.S. and China, the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Chinese companies, and the invasive nature of Chinese software. The author notes that avoiding Chinese products is increasingly difficult, citing examples like the Insta360 mobile app, DJI drone app, and Bambu Labs 3D printers, which are considered top-tier but require network connections and have aggressive permission requests. The DJI app's removal from the Google App Store and the encrypted data transmission from Bambu printers raise further concerns about data privacy and security. The author worries that if tensions between China and the West escalate, over-the-air (OTA) updates could be used maliciously. They seek validation for their concerns and inquire about potential strategies to mitigate risks, mentioning their use of virtual machines and older devices. However, they acknowledge that the diminishing ability of Western companies to produce quality products at competitive prices complicates the situation.
Related
Windows: Insecure by Design
The article discusses ongoing security issues with Microsoft Windows, including recent vulnerabilities exploited by a Chinese hacking group, criticism of continuous patch releases, concerns about privacy invasion with Recall feature, and frustrations with Windows 11 practices. It advocates for considering more secure alternatives like Linux.
In China, the addiction of apps like TikTok, Temu been driven to perfection
Angela Zhang, a University of Hong Kong professor, analyzes China's tech regulation. She notes Chinese apps' global success, addiction concerns, internal competition, regulatory impact, AI challenges, deepfake regulation, and potential AI law.
Some thoughts on the web. On web engines, content, and web rent (2023)
Chromium's dominance, Google's influence, and privacy concerns are discussed. The article questions browsers' user-centricity versus ad networks' interests, Google's impact on web standards, and the shift towards web-based services. Future tech developments are hinted.
CrowdStrike fiasco highlights growing Sino-Russian tech independence
CrowdStrike's software update failure disrupted global Windows systems, while China and Russia mitigated impacts through domestic Linux adoption, highlighting the need for technological independence and diversification in the global tech landscape.
Technology's grip on modern life is pushing us down a dimly lit path
A global technology outage caused by a CrowdStrike software update exposed vulnerabilities in interconnected systems, prompting calls for a balance between innovation and security to enhance digital resilience.
3 commentsPeople in various regimes have long lived under sanctions of various sorts where foreign goods weren't readily available. It's possible to just choose to sacrifice some utility or entertainment if you're concerned about security.
I share your concerns too, and I think some government agencies prefer not to use Lenovo or DJI for the same reasons. But at the end of the day, American consumer goods manufacturing is way behind China now, so either you choose inferior products at higher prices or you bite the bullet like anyone else and just join the flock.
China is already involved in so much of US day to day life, between Lenovo, TikTok, Tencent, Hollywood, DJI, Anker, Epic Games, Midea, university students, scientists, etc. It's a bit too late to really do anything about it unless you want another Japanese internment camp style purge.
In the age of global capitalism, any company you like and trust now can easily be bought up by a Chinese conglomerate whenever it's weak and stocks are down. Or they often go for partial ownership, especially in our entertainment brands (movies and games) while exercising limited control. They're already everywhere and most US consumers are probably using something from a big Chinese firm without knowing it.
It's not the end of the world, IMO. China is an adversary, sure, but they have limited force projection abilities. It's really only Taiwan that's at stake, but it's been like that for decades. While we were busy warmongering, they built up their manufacturing and research and education the hard way. If we really want to reclaim some of that, we need to reinvest domestically in our people and skills and facilities, not just try to keep them out. Our brand of capitalism is too greedy for that to work.
Related
Windows: Insecure by Design
The article discusses ongoing security issues with Microsoft Windows, including recent vulnerabilities exploited by a Chinese hacking group, criticism of continuous patch releases, concerns about privacy invasion with Recall feature, and frustrations with Windows 11 practices. It advocates for considering more secure alternatives like Linux.
In China, the addiction of apps like TikTok, Temu been driven to perfection
Angela Zhang, a University of Hong Kong professor, analyzes China's tech regulation. She notes Chinese apps' global success, addiction concerns, internal competition, regulatory impact, AI challenges, deepfake regulation, and potential AI law.
Some thoughts on the web. On web engines, content, and web rent (2023)
Chromium's dominance, Google's influence, and privacy concerns are discussed. The article questions browsers' user-centricity versus ad networks' interests, Google's impact on web standards, and the shift towards web-based services. Future tech developments are hinted.
CrowdStrike fiasco highlights growing Sino-Russian tech independence
CrowdStrike's software update failure disrupted global Windows systems, while China and Russia mitigated impacts through domestic Linux adoption, highlighting the need for technological independence and diversification in the global tech landscape.
Technology's grip on modern life is pushing us down a dimly lit path
A global technology outage caused by a CrowdStrike software update exposed vulnerabilities in interconnected systems, prompting calls for a balance between innovation and security to enhance digital resilience.