Threats And Balances

As the National Cyber Security Centre warns that the Chinese manufacturer ZTE could pose a threat to the UK’s infrastructure, Cyber Insider asks who we can trust

THE WORLD IS getting less trustworthy. Among reports of Russian interference in elections and warnings of what could happen to critical infrastructure should hackers attack comes a new threat. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has written to telecoms companies warning them against buying kit from Chinese manufacturer ZTE.

Dr Ian Levy, technical director of the NCSC, said: “It is entirely appropriate and part of NCSC’s duty to highlight potential risks to the UK’s national security and provide advice based on our technical expertise.

“NCSC assess that the national security risks arising from the use of ZTE equipment or services within the context of existing UK telecommunications infrastructure can’t be mitigated.”

Dr Levy later wrote to UK telecoms companies, warning them against using ZTE products. According to the Financial Times, the letter states that UK telecoms networks already have a “significant amount” of equipment from Huawei, another Chinese manufacturer. The advice notes that using another Chinese supplier would “render our existing mitigations ineffective”.

That’s a very strongly worded letter, and shows the threat that the UK’s top cyber security centre believes we’re under.

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