this post was submitted on 01 Feb 2025
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Hardware

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[–] Alphane_Moon 22 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

This is why I hesitate to use Chinese-brand electronics, even though some of their offerings are appealing and they are often price competitive. I would rather just have the peace of mind and buy Korean or Taiwanese electronics.

[–] surph_ninja -2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You believe there are not backdoors built into Korean or Taiwanese products?

[–] Alphane_Moon 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

There is less likelihood of such backdoros than with Chinese products.

[–] surph_ninja 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

What makes you think that? We’ve seen loads of western backdoors exposed, and we know they also engage in supply chain intervention.

[–] Alphane_Moon 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

People in authoritarian countries have a much higher level of tolerance for intrusive policies. Countries that lack a real judicial system have less safeguards with respect to secret backdoors. Revanchist cultures that focus on national exceptionalism are more likely to develop "blind spots" with respect to government and corporate overreach.

Keep in mind that I've lived in multiple countries in North America, Europe and Asia and speak multiple languages; I am not just making stuff up.

You may not be convinced by what I am saying and that's fine. I am just explaining my reasoning.

[–] surph_ninja 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The US is an authoritarian police state, with an intelligence sector that has its claws in every industry across the globe. Of course their products are chock full of backdoors as well. And all of the leaks and whistleblowers have confirmed that.

[–] Alphane_Moon 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I've lived for many years in both russia and the US. As I said earlier, my life experience makes it impossible for me to align with campist rhetoric.

[–] surph_ninja 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If your life experience taught you to defend fascists, you learned the wrong lessons.

[–] Alphane_Moon 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

No. It taught me the importance of nuance and to avoid simplistic black and white thinking.

Recognizing that while the US has many problems, it is no where close to russia (at least so far).

Don't take my word for it. Vladimir Kara Murza, who was jailed by putin for publicly opposing the full scale invasion of Ukraine, is able to see the difference.

[Interviewer] A lot of Americans are worried now about the future of their own democracy. Polls show that was top of mind for a large number of voters. As someone who’s seen authoritarianism firsthand, do you think it’s reasonable for people in the US or other democracies to be worried about their countries remaining democracies?

Well, first of all, I do think it’s right to never be complacent about this, to never take things for granted. I think it was President Reagan who said that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. That is unfortunately, absolutely true, and we all have to be vigilant about this. But you know, I’m an optimist about Russia, and I’m certainly an optimist about the United States.

You’ve had two-and-a-half centuries of democratic institutions and democratic traditions. That’s not going to suddenly be undone because of any single person in the space of four years. So I don’t share these alarmist sorts of views and predictions. But it’s right that people are concerned because we always have to stand guard and make sure that we protect these democratic institutions.

[–] surph_ninja 1 points 2 weeks ago

No. There is no amount of “nuance” that excuses working with or supporting fascists at any level. It is very black and white on that, regardless of how you may justify it to yourself.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I run a managed service provider (basically corporate I.T.) and we deal with lots of medical & dental companies. We have yet to walk into a place EVEN IF THEY HAD OTHER I.T. SUPPORT BEFORE WE GET THERE that isn't actively bleeding mass amounts of data to China and have no idea why they are doing so. Some systems are even going as far as to send out screenshots and passwords.

We don't know why it's so prevalent in medical and dental, but it's probably not good.

It's kind of terrifying how non-private everything is in badly run companies that are more cost-focused than privacy-focused. Even worse, we've had some medical and dental offices refuse support because it was too costly (and we're on the lower-mid end of pricing), but having all their client data stolen was free!