Warns The Aircraft Could Pose A Cyber Security Risk

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued an alert warning of a potential cybersecurity risk involving drones made in China. DHS says that the aircraft may be sending flight data back to their Chinese manufacturers.

"The United States government has strong concerns about any technology product that takes American data into the territory of an authoritarian state that permits its intelligence services to have unfettered access to that data or otherwise abuses that access," the alert, obtained by CNN says.

"Those concerns apply with equal force to certain Chinese-made (unmanned aircraft systems)-connected devices capable of collecting and transferring potentially revealing data about their operations and the individuals and entities operating them, as China imposes unusually stringent obligations on its citizens to support national intelligence activities."

Nearly 80 percent of the drones being flown in the U.S. and Canada were manufactured by DJI, according to the report, though no specific manufacturer was singled out in the alert.

The alert warns those purchasing a drone manufactured in China to take such security measures as turning off the aircraft's internet connection and removing secure digital cards. It also advises drone operators to understand how to properly operate and limit your device's access to networks" to prevent the unlawful transfer of information.

"Organizations that conduct operations impacting national security or the Nation's critical functions must remain especially vigilant as they may be at greater risk of espionage and theft of proprietary information," the alert says.

In a statement, DJI said its products offer "full and complete control over how their data is collected, stored, and transmitted ... customers can enable all the precautions DHS recommends."

"For government and critical infrastructure customers that require additional assurances, we provide drones that do not transfer data to DJI or via the internet, and our customers can enable all the precautions DHS recommends. Every day, American businesses, first responders, and U.S. government agencies trust DJI drones to help save lives, promote worker safety, and support vital operations, and we take that responsibility very seriously," the dronemaker said.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report