News that Chinese surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition technology have been installed at various government departments and at locations on the King’s Sandringham estate has got me thinking.
For starters, who in their right mind thought that it would be a good idea to install Chinese made CCTV at such sensitive sites in the first place?
Perhaps they were a more cost-effective solution. The problem is that the company that produces them, Hikvision, is said to be controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and that means that it is obliged to hand over data to the authorities if ordered to do so.
The fact that these cameras remain in place, despite the glaringly obvious security concern that they might be open to compromise is, quite simply, mind-boggling.
It also raises the issue of cyber security for businesses and for homeowners in general. I’m not suggesting that Chinese spies are snooping on all of us (at least I hope not) but in this day and age, any organisation that relies on a complex IT system is vulnerable to attack.
Emplas, for example, was the victim of a major ransomware attack in March 2021 that was triggered simply by someone plugging an Android phone into a laptop to charge it up.
Fortunately, the fabricator was able to get on top of the situation relatively quickly, but it has since put comprehensive measures in place to protect against future attacks, securing a Cyber Essentials Accreditation in the process.
Unfortunately, it is much less likely that consumers will take the same measures to protect homes which have become packed full of smart technology – including smart hardware.
This means they are reliant on the companies designing and manufacturing smart hardware to make sure the products they offer are as robust as possible, not just to protect against traditional, manual attacks but from more sophisticated measures as well.
Ultimately, smart hardware that can demonstrate it is fit for purpose – with, for example, a BSi Kitemark for IoT (Internet of Things) Devices – will not only help to ease homeowner concerns but should present a real selling opportunity for installers as well.
Cyber security is essential
News that Chinese surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition technology have been installed at various government departments and at locations on the King’s Sandringham estate has got me thinking.
For starters, who in their right mind thought that it would be a good idea to install Chinese made CCTV at such sensitive sites in the first place?
Perhaps they were a more cost-effective solution. The problem is that the company that produces them, Hikvision, is said to be controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and that means that it is obliged to hand over data to the authorities if ordered to do so.
The fact that these cameras remain in place, despite the glaringly obvious security concern that they might be open to compromise is, quite simply, mind-boggling.
It also raises the issue of cyber security for businesses and for homeowners in general. I’m not suggesting that Chinese spies are snooping on all of us (at least I hope not) but in this day and age, any organisation that relies on a complex IT system is vulnerable to attack.
Emplas, for example, was the victim of a major ransomware attack in March 2021 that was triggered simply by someone plugging an Android phone into a laptop to charge it up.
Fortunately, the fabricator was able to get on top of the situation relatively quickly, but it has since put comprehensive measures in place to protect against future attacks, securing a Cyber Essentials Accreditation in the process.
Unfortunately, it is much less likely that consumers will take the same measures to protect homes which have become packed full of smart technology – including smart hardware.
This means they are reliant on the companies designing and manufacturing smart hardware to make sure the products they offer are as robust as possible, not just to protect against traditional, manual attacks but from more sophisticated measures as well.
Ultimately, smart hardware that can demonstrate it is fit for purpose – with, for example, a BSi Kitemark for IoT (Internet of Things) Devices – will not only help to ease homeowner concerns but should present a real selling opportunity for installers as well.
Glass Times
Related Articles
Helping fabricators with FHS
AI – for better or worse?
Front door lasts longer than PM