Senator Ron Wyden has expressed concerns regarding potential security risks associated with commercial electronic safes manufactured in China. These safes, widely used by the American public, may contain backdoor access codes known only to the manufacturer, raising fears of unauthorized access by foreign adversaries. Wyden highlights the possibility of these codes being exploited to steal sensitive information stored in the safes, such as trade secrets and intellectual property.
The senator criticizes the lack of transparency surrounding the existence of these backdoor codes, suggesting that the U.S. government has chosen to keep the public uninformed about the vulnerabilities they pose. Additionally, Wyden emphasizes the obligations of Chinese-based companies like SecuRam Systems to comply with Chinese law, which may include sharing data and assisting in foreign surveillance operations.
Security experts warn about the prevalence of backdoor access codes in commercial safes and urge organizations to assess and update their safety protocols accordingly. They emphasize the importance of testing safes for potential vulnerabilities and implementing robust security measures to mitigate risks. Wyden calls on the National Counterintelligence and Security Center to update educational resources and recommend upgrading safe locks to align with government security standards, reflecting the ongoing efforts to address emerging security challenges in the digital age.
