Backdoors

Following U.S. approval of NVIDIA’s H20 AI chip export to China, Beijing reportedly summoned the company to discuss potential security risks, including alleged “backdoors.” NVIDIA denies these claims, but Chinese state media demands irrefutable proof of security. An exposé details potential hardware and software backdoor methods for remote shutdown and tracking, highlighting concerns over U.S. control of AI chip technology and its implications for Chinese data security and energy efficiency goals. The report suggests the H20 chip is neither secure nor environmentally friendly for China.

Zhou Hongyi, founder of 360, addressed concerns about Nvidia’s H20 AI chip security at a Beijing conference, following reports of Chinese regulatory scrutiny. While acknowledging the difficulty of detecting hardware backdoors, Zhou stated software-related vulnerabilities are inevitable. He distinguished between intentional backdoors and unintentional vulnerabilities, suggesting China’s suspicions are reasonable given past US government requests to Nvidia. Despite this, Zhou believes Nvidia likely has no deliberate malicious intent and proposed a third-party security audit to address concerns. Nvidia denies any backdoors in its chips.

China’s Ministry of State Security warns of increasing cybersecurity threats from hidden “backdoors” in foreign-made technology. These backdoors, either intentionally embedded or unwittingly created, can grant unauthorized access for espionage, potentially turning everyday devices into tools for remote surveillance and data theft. The Ministry urges vigilance, advocating for domestically developed technology and robust security protocols to mitigate these risks and protect national security.