China Has Invented Miraculous Hack-Proof Processor And Operating System?

from the some-skepticism-please? dept

Tim Lee points us to a somewhat (unintentionally) amusing article claiming that China has somehow developed a security "hardened" microprocessor and operation system that is effectively hackproof. Of course, there's no evidence of this presented whatsoever. And, it's somewhat difficult to believe that such a "security hardened" system could exist -- especially in a case where it's never actually been tested out in the real world against those who have incentive to hack it. So why does the reporter parrot these claims as if they're simple fact?
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: china, security


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  1. identicon
    TheStupidOne, 15 May 2009 @ 9:28am

    It is Hack Proof

    If it doesn't exist

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Tgeigs, 15 May 2009 @ 9:28am

    No

    You misread the article due to a typo. It actually stated that the processor "Shackproof" and was designed specifically for Yao Ming while he travels w/the Houston Rockets. It isn't widely advertised, but Yao also doubles as a spy gathering intelligence information on possible US Targets in case of a nuclear war between USA and China. As we all know Shaquille Oneal recently attempted a career in law enforcement, hence the requirement of a data system that is resistent to his attempts to infiltrate. Shackproof is a spelling error for Shaqproof.

    Honest mistake, no worries.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    :Lobo Santo, 15 May 2009 @ 9:30am

    Payola?

    Isn't it always "follow the money"?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. icon
    lavi d (profile), 15 May 2009 @ 9:42am

    I'm Paying Attention!

    So why does the reporter parrot these claims as if they're simple fact?

    Because his story is protected by copyright?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 9:48am

    Re: No

    It isn't required now, Shaq is starting his new movie career with Ben Stein. Haven't you seen the ads?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. icon
    chris (profile), 15 May 2009 @ 9:59am

    i have one of those

    it's a p3 laptop sitting in a box in my basement. hasn't been powered on in a couple of years.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 10:05am

    Why does the reporter parrot these claims as if they're simple fact? Come on, Mike! YOU coined the term to answer your own question: "Journalistic Capture"

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 10:16am

    It's China, of course they just parroted what the guv'mint told 'em to.
    You know what they say, better safe than lined up against a wall and shot.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Tony, 15 May 2009 @ 10:18am

    Huh?

    I always thought everything was hackable given enough time and money...

    I guess the Chinese have proven me wrong...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 10:23am

    I dont know why people are taking it with such a grain of salt. I mean, yeah highly unlikely, but entirely possible. Creating an operating system that has limited capabilities, but is secure. Seems possible, seems like a good idea. Limit data flow of any sort on any ports except for things that are signed in some cryptographically "proven" manner.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    AudibleNod, 15 May 2009 @ 10:31am

    Hack Proof PC

    I have a security hardened PC with an uncrackable Operating System sitting on the floor next to me. The computer is unplugged and has been that way for a while. So I suppose the Chinese have some sort of paperweight with an OS embedded in it. Congratulations!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 10:36am

    Re:

    A simpler explanation is it is easier to be a stenographer than an actual journalist.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Jason, 15 May 2009 @ 10:36am

    Re: No

    AND Shaq knows kung fu.

    Oh and so does Chuck. DON'T CANCEL CHUCK!!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 10:38am

    Re: Hack Proof PC

    I have a hack-proof PC as well. It runs windows. Opps, I meant to say hack-prone. sorry.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 10:40am

    Re: It is Hack Proof

    Propaganda China

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    Chris, 15 May 2009 @ 10:41am

    Chinese always make stuff up

    China always inflates their accomplishments. They falsified information regarding their economy in which the world banks overinflated their wealth by 40%. Also china tends to wrong their own people, but hide it as much as possible. Along with many actions the Chinese have done, I wouldn't believe a thing they say.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    R. Miles, 15 May 2009 @ 10:44am

    Firewall notwithstanding...

    Of course, there's no evidence of this presented whatsoever.
    That's because the system was hacked and the data stolen.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    Caleb Fenton, 15 May 2009 @ 10:45am

    Try This

    Press Ctrl+Alt+F3 and see if you get a Linux prompt. Lindows, anyone?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    SRS2000, 15 May 2009 @ 11:06am

    Yao

    Be careful taking any laptop or smartphone into Yao's restaurant in Houston... The Chinese secret agents will hack in and steal your launch codes. Then serve you delicious food.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    Tgeigs, 15 May 2009 @ 11:11am

    Re: Yao

    "Be careful taking any laptop or smartphone into Yao's restaurant in Houston... The Chinese secret agents will hack in and steal your launch codes. Then serve you delicious food"

    Yeah, but you'll just be hungry again in an hour.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 11:13am

    Re: Try This

    Londows "endows" the chinese computers?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. identicon
    SRS2000, 15 May 2009 @ 11:14am

    Re:

    Yeah.. It's called removing it from the internet.. removing any type of standard networking device or data access device.. Use a secure, obscure, and painfully encrypted network run by Navajo Indians. Have the room lined in lead and a faraday cage. Then have it automatically shut down if someone attempts to hack it. Then have the room it is in guarded by automated .50 cal machine guns with their own battery backup.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. identicon
    StrongArm, 15 May 2009 @ 11:21am

    I have 20 million in the bank

    I can tell you all I have 20 million in the bank and its true until some looks and see's I have $2.52. Put the hack proof pc out there and we'll see whats up. Oh the PC will never be put out there because the Govt wont allow that now will it.

    BTW I also have a purple pony that eats hay and produces gold and diamonds!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  24. identicon
    SRS2000, 15 May 2009 @ 11:21am

    If it does exist

    You know that if it does exist.. China didn't invent it. I mean, seriously, when has China not just stolen the information from some other country? Their last original idea might have been fireworks.. I wouldn't be surprised if this was all just some translation error. They meant to say their new OS was hot and stylin. Not Kylin.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  25. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 11:42am

    It's not totally implausable

    Perhaps they've built a microprocessor that doesn't work and an operating system that can't execute anything.

    Then it'd be hack proof.

    It'd be usefulness proof, too. But it would be hack proof.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  26. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 11:43am

    Come on, just lemme have five minutes with this box...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  27. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 12:01pm

    The only hack proof computer is one that stays powered off at all times.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  28. identicon
    AC, 15 May 2009 @ 12:05pm

    Re:

    With the keyboard, mouse, usb ports removed from the motherboard, along with the network card and any external media like cdroms or floppies removed. all status lights need to be removed as well, as well as the powersupply being wired into a direct short.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  29. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 12:09pm

    LOL too funny. it's binary compatible with BSD and Linux binaries. How does that make it hack proof I wonder? Just another *nix based OS here ... nothing to see.

    http://www.honeytechblog.com/downlod-kylin-operating-system-by-chinaqingbo-wu/

    link to this | view in thread ]

  30. identicon
    Tgeigs, 15 May 2009 @ 12:09pm

    And

    "China Has Invented Miraculous Hack-Proof Processor And Operating System"

    They also proved the existence of God, cured the common cold, invented time travel, perfected reanimation of dead cells, and made Fran Drescher speak in a way that is pallitable to non-Long Island Americans.

    China Rules!!! (Disclaimer: Some of the above claims may contain lead paint)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  31. identicon
    TheStupidOne, 15 May 2009 @ 12:29pm

    Re:

    Any OS is hack proof if only authorized people can access it. 0 networking ability coupled with decent physical security around the computer would make it inaccessible by even the most talented and determined hackers.

    Then even if malware would installed on accident by an authorized user it still couldn't compromise the security of the system.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  32. identicon
    Overcast, 15 May 2009 @ 12:34pm

    It's called a pen, paper, and an abacus.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  33. identicon
    Chronno S. Trigger, 15 May 2009 @ 1:01pm

    Re: Re:

    Yet the HDD can still be stolen and attached to another PC with the ability to crack the encryption.

    The best hack proof computer I have ever even heard about was from my teacher in college; take a sledge hammer to it and when you're finished make absolutely sure that there isn't a single piece larger than a dime. This way it cannot be hacked locally or remotely.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  34. identicon
    Ben, 15 May 2009 @ 1:31pm

    China's PR/Spin/Propaganda crap in overdrive!

    Hey, I've got a bridge in the Gobi to sell you!

    Acupuncture cures cancer, more at 11!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  35. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 4:11pm

    Objective

    Tim Lee points us to a somewhat (unintentionally) amusing article claiming that China has somehow developed a security "hardened" microprocessor and operation system that is effectively hackproof.

    Strange, I didn't see that claim in the story. Just that it was "designed to be impenetrable", meaning that that was a design objective, not that it has been proven to be so.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  36. identicon
    the running man, 15 May 2009 @ 8:47pm

    Let the US knockoff the computer, and see how long it takes for China to hack it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  37. identicon
    Dan, 15 May 2009 @ 10:08pm

    As long as it stays sequestered in a Mason jar on Funk & Wagnal's back porch it will remain unhacked.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  38. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 11:42pm

    Re: Huh?

    as chris mentioned it, only way for something to be un-hackable is if its un-powered and perhaps unreachable.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  39. icon
    Hephaestus (profile), 16 May 2009 @ 11:14pm

    For sale one slightly used 1970's teletype... fully hack proof .... papertape reader optional...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  40. identicon
    adsense script, 17 May 2009 @ 11:47pm

    washington post have posted this news... mmmmmmmmmmm

    link to this | view in thread ]

  41. identicon
    nasch, 18 May 2009 @ 7:46am

    Re:

    I dont know why people are taking it with such a grain of salt. I mean, yeah highly unlikely, but entirely possible.

    I guess that answers your question: "highly unlikely".

    link to this | view in thread ]

  42. identicon
    I.P. Freely, 27 May 2009 @ 1:39am

    Since we're telling fairy tales...

    China is full of shit! Vince, the ShamWow™ guy, sold me one of these unhackable processors months ago. It is made from Billy Mays' beard, a PCB board, and a few transistors from Radio Shack.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  43. identicon
    BNilly, 17 Mar 2010 @ 11:29pm

    Not right

    U ar edumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! u are stupid!!!!!!!!!!1

    link to this | view in thread ]

  44. identicon
    h4ckr, 18 Oct 2010 @ 3:40am

    it will soon get vulnerable

    link to this | view in thread ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.