Venezuela's Maduro Claims US Spies Can't Hack Huawei Phones

Venezuela’s President Maduro Claims Chinese Phone is Unhackable

During a press conference held on Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro presented a smartphone gifted to him by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He proclaimed the device to be “the best phone in the world,” accompanied by a noteworthy assertion regarding its security.

Maduro’s Security Claim

Maduro stated that the phone is impervious to hacking attempts by the United States.

Specifically, he claimed that neither U.S. spy planes nor satellites could compromise the device’s security.

Phone Identification and Potential Vulnerabilities

The showcased phone appears to be a Huawei Mate X6, a foldable model released by Huawei in 2024.

Despite the claim of invulnerability, security experts suggest that no system is entirely immune to hacking, particularly from sophisticated actors like those employed by the U.S. government.

Expert Analysis of Huawei Devices

A vulnerability researcher based in the U.S. explained to TechCrunch that Huawei’s integrated hardware and software—including its HarmonyOS operating system—can present unique challenges.

The researcher, who requested anonymity, indicated that newer codebases are often more susceptible to errors than established systems like iOS and Android.

HarmonyOS Security Updates

HarmonyOS, like all software, is subject to bugs and requires consistent security updates.

Huawei commits to monthly security patches for the Mate X6, but acknowledges that update frequency may vary depending on the device model and carrier support.

Some carriers may only provide quarterly updates.

Recent HarmonyOS Patches

In the previous month alone, Huawei addressed 60 vulnerabilities within HarmonyOS.

Notably, 13 of these were categorized as “high severity” issues.

Huawei’s Acknowledgment of Malware

Huawei openly recognizes the possibility of malware affecting its devices.

The company provides resources to assist customers who suspect their devices have been compromised.

Huawei did not respond to requests for comment regarding Maduro’s claims.

Historical U.S. Government Targeting of Huawei

There is a documented history of the U.S. government actively targeting Huawei for intelligence gathering.

In 2014, leaked documents from Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA had successfully hacked Huawei servers located in China.

NSA Infiltration of Huawei

The NSA operation involved installing backdoors within Huawei servers.

This allowed U.S. intelligence agencies to gain access to Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen, enabling surveillance of executive communications and product information.

According to The New York Times, an NSA document stated the agency aimed to “exploit” Huawei products to “gain access to networks of interest” globally.

Ongoing U.S. Efforts to Hack Huawei

While the 2014 incident is well-documented, it is highly probable that the NSA, U.S. Cyber Command, and other agencies continue to actively seek vulnerabilities in Huawei devices for espionage purposes.

It is likely that dedicated personnel within the U.S. government are solely focused on hacking Huawei systems.

Earlier this year, the Chinese government accused the NSA of targeting China’s critical infrastructure.