Apple Denies Report Claiming Chinese Spies Planted Microchips in iCloud Servers

[Abazigal]

Why wouldn't they just say the real reason?

Possibly because all countries are doing the same thing. Maybe even the US. So you can’t really condemn another country for doing the very thing you are. So you have to retaliate in more indirect ways.

They have preciously hinted at this by banning the use of networking equipment from huawei and ZTE. It’s starting to make more sense now.

 

[Abazigal]

Why would Apple have to deny the story? It wouldn't be their fault.

How do you admit this issue and still continue to do business in China? Not to mention their entire supply chain is set up there. I think Apple is doing the best thing here. Publicly deny everything, while making sure nothing is compromised on their end.

 

[kemal]

We are talking about a chip that can affect the order of execution of instructions inside a CPU without being bodged in place. Thought exercise: If china could do this, what would they have to gain? They would already know everything.

 

[-BigMac-]

“We did not uncover any unusual vulnerabilities in the servers we purchased from Super Micro when we updated the firmware and software according to our standard procedures.”

What about after?
Interesting wording...

 

[cocky jeremy]

Ding ding... That's the problem right there... sheer greed.

That's kind of their entire purpose for existing, sooo...

 

[IG88]

So you don't live in China, are not affected by this story, and have a political axe to grind. Got it.

I don't understand your point. You don't think Americans are at all affected by China stealing trade secrets from large American corporations?

 

[RogerWilco]

Now imagine this same basic scenario, a wifi-enabled CPU masquerading as a surface mount capacitor, installed in billions of other devices currently in use around the world.

All your base are belong to us!

 

[MacWorld78]

The life becomes a very complicated due security issue that ends up a massive hassle for the business user(s)

 

[truthertech]

I don't think we can trust Apple's statement on this issue since the FBI/government could have ordered the affected companies to deny it ever happened for national security purposes.

LOL. Now that's a hoot. First, there's no such authority within the FBI or government in the USA to order individuals to lie "for national security purposes" or any other reason. That's something you see in the movies, but doesn't exist in the real world.

 

[NT1440]

LOL. Now that's a hoot. First, there's no such authority within the FBI or government in the USA to order individuals to lie "for national security purposes" or any other reason. That's something you see in the movies, but doesn't exist in the real world.

Do yourself a favor and search “national security letter”. There absolutely is a mechanism used by US intelligence agencies that require recipients to lie about it.

Also, this story is almost an exact replica of a story that was circulated a few years back. One us to wonder if this has anything to do with our new military posture of “great power conflict” and the clear war path we have lined up towards China.

 

[IG88]

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

I don’t see how asking about to allegedly lie breaks a 1st amendment. After all Apple is not a person, well, maybe a judicial entity. Carry on...

You don't seem to understand how the Courts / Court cases affect the breadth and interpretation of the Constitution.

 

[jgbr]

Move manufacturing back to the west.

 

[IG88]

Corporations are treated more or less as people when it comes to the first amendment. The main difference is purely commercial speech can be regulated.
[doublepost=1538661628][/doublepost]

By the way, see the Citizens United case re first amendment rights of corporations. It’s quite famous.

He apparently believes that the Constitution exists in a vacuum, and that 200+ years of Court precedent has zero bearing on the scope and meaning.

 

[Substance90]

Well, it's not like every Intel CPU doesn't contain a very similar chip - Intel ME - running a completely separate hidden OS independently from everything else on your PC, complete with network access.

 

[doctor-don]

This was a concern 10+ years ago that someone would put chips in Wifi routers, netowork cards, etc and be able to access your data. It's not a stretch to think this has/is/was happening.

That was Huawei who did that. February 2018-
Don’t use Huawei phones, say heads of FBI, CIA, and NSA

 

[jona2125]

Seems reasonable to me on Apple's part. This is the type of stuff Apple has built their reputation on, I certainly wouldn't expect them to lie about it. Too much at stake.

I wish I could trust Apple on this but they were proven to deny and mislead with information to people in the past and I certainly don't doubt they play hide-and-seek with things constantly. While people say "why would they lie", the same question exists of "why would they tell the direct truth", they've always been very hard pressed for direct answers and still remain very controlling of what specific information comes out. Tim Cook addresses specific things with a very tailored response that essentially leaves what he said purely to interpretation.

 

[swingerofbirch]

This reminds me of a friend I had who would only buy American cars. I pointed out that foreign cars were also made in the US. She had a theory that Toyota was going to implant bombs in all their cars and one day might set them all off at the same time. It was a crazy idea, but interesting.

 

[AdonisSMU]

I’d much rather have the design and engineering jobs than the manufacturing jobs that are all going to be replaced with robots anyway.

Right but what’s wrong with having both?

 

[AppleFan91]

Well, there goes Gurman’s invites to Apple events haha.

 

[fastlanephil]

This denial from Apple confirms that an upcoming Apple hardware event will soon be announced.

 

[wigby]

Bloomberg is fake news.

So what do you say when they report positive rumors about Apple? I don't believe these particular rumors at face value either but I don't dismiss their entire publication as fake news. We already have a megaphoned moron in the Whitehouse for that purpose.

 

[IG88]

Could this be why Timmy went on the offensive with that reporter about security, data and China?

He knew this story was coming out.

Yes.

 

[coolfactor]

I highly doubt it would be possible to just "add a chip to a motherboard" if that motherboard was not designed for that chip. Was there a convenient socket ready and waiting for this stealth chip? Sorry Bloomberg, the real world ain't like the movies.

But at the same time, I'm skeptical about security screenings of incoming hardware. If a new server arrived shrink-wrapped in plastic, do you think they completely disassemble it and inspect the layout of every circuit before before putting it into production use? I doubt that. They likely do run a software screening, and maybe that has some diagnostic / signature system to verify its integrity, but to physically inspect the hardware seems like a reach to me.

 

[tridley68]

if this is true it is One more reason Apple should build and manufacture it's products in the United states.

 

[DNichter]

I wish I could trust Apple on this but they were proven to deny and mislead with information to people in the past and I certainly don't doubt they play hide-and-seek with things constantly. While people say "why would they lie", the same question exists of "why would they tell the direct truth", they've always been very hard pressed for direct answers and still remain very controlling of what specific information comes out. Tim Cook addresses specific things with a very tailored response that essentially leaves what he said purely to interpretation.

I am a bit lost. Where did they deny and mislead in the past? I am assuming with the degrading batteries scenario? They came out and said they implemented throttling so that degraded batteries wouldn't shut off. Should they have been more up front? Yes. Would I consider that denying and misleading? No. In response to your second point, my post answered the question. Why would they tell the direct truth? Because their entire reputation is at stake. Apple is known for security and privacy. They wouldn't lie about this and put the entire company in question.