Chinese “kill switches” that could allow Beijing to cripple power grids and trigger blackouts across the West have been found in equipment at US solar farms.
The rogue devices, including cellular radios, were discovered in Chinese-made power inverters that are used to connect solar panels and wind turbines to electricity grids across the world, including the UK.
The hidden communications equipment could be deployed remotely to switch off inverters with potentially catastrophic results.
The discovery, reported by Reuters, will heighten concerns that China has installed covert malware in critical energy infrastructure throughout the US and Europe. The kill switches could be deployed at any time in the event of a confrontation between China and the West.
Mike Rogers, a former director of the US National Security Agency, said China had a vested interest in putting US infrastructure at risk JACQUELYN MARTIN/AP
Over the past nine months, the suspect devices were found in inverters and batteries from multiple Chinese suppliers by US experts who strip down equipment to check for security issues before they are connected to power grids.
fudgedhobnobs on May 18th, 2025 at 00:12 UTC »
Not a surprise. I worked in procurement for a renewables giant a few years ago. The 'technical evaluation' of major hardware like this was a paper exercise and some bearded guy who drove a Subaru signed off based on a spec sheet. The West's decadence is the cause of its demise.
Plus ca change...
feedmytv on May 17th, 2025 at 23:44 UTC »
how do you send a message to activate the cellular radio, if there's no connection to use in the first place. How does that work. If you use say a bluetooth or a different type of connectivity, why bother with the cellular radio. Why not let that be the kill signal.
My huawei inverter has a cellular modem, nothing 'secret' about it.
If anyone has a more indepth article about what exactly was found, please link it.
Bananaseverywh4r on May 17th, 2025 at 16:06 UTC »
SS: “ Chinese “kill switches” that could allow Beijing to cripple power grids and trigger blackouts across the West have been found in equipment at US solar farms. The rogue devices, including cellular radios, were discovered in Chinese-made power inverters that are used to connect solar panels and wind turbines to electricity grids across the world, including the UK.
The hidden communications equipment could be deployed remotely to switch off inverters with potentially catastrophic results.
The discovery, reported by Reuters, will heighten concerns that China has installed covert malware in critical energy infrastructure throughout the US and Europe. The kill switches could be deployed at any time in the event of a confrontation between China and the West.”