US Warns of "Smart" Highway Infrastructure Risks: Hidden Radios Embedded in Foreign-Made Solar Panels

US Warns of Hidden Radios in Solar-Powered Highway Infrastructure A recent advisory issued by the US Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration has raised concerns about the potential for hidden radios to be embedded in foreign-made solar-powered highway infrastructure. The warning, disseminated on August 20, comes amid growing unease over the presence of Chinese technology in America's transportation infrastructure. According to a four-page security note obtained by Reuters, undocumented cellular radios have been discovered in certain power inverters and battery management systems (BMS) manufactured abroad. While the advisory does not specify where the affected products originated from, many inverters are made in China, fueling concerns about the potential for rogue communications components to be seeded into these devices. "This is a serious issue that requires immediate attention," said a senior US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We cannot afford to have our critical infrastructure vulnerable to remote tampering or hacking." The advisory notes that the affected devices are used to power various aspects of US highway infrastructure, including traffic management systems and electronic signs. The presence of hidden radios raises concerns about the potential for these devices to be compromised, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information or even physical control over critical infrastructure. Background research suggests that this is not an isolated incident. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases of Chinese-made technology being used in critical infrastructure projects around the world, including in the United States, Europe, and Australia. These incidents have sparked concerns about the potential for espionage or sabotage through these devices. "This is a classic case of 'plausible deniability,'" said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, an expert on cybersecurity at Harvard University. "The manufacturers may claim that they did not intentionally embed radios into their products, but the fact remains that these devices can be used to compromise our infrastructure." In response to the advisory, US officials have begun reviewing all foreign-made solar-powered highway infrastructure for potential vulnerabilities. The Federal Highway Administration has also issued guidelines for state and local authorities on how to identify and mitigate any risks associated with these devices. As the investigation continues, experts warn that this is just the tip of the iceberg. "This is a wake-up call for governments around the world," said Dr. Rodriguez. "We need to be more vigilant about the technology we import and ensure that our critical infrastructure is secure from potential threats." The US Department of Transportation has not commented on any specific actions being taken in response to the advisory, but officials have confirmed that they are working closely with international partners to address these concerns. Byline: Emily Chen, International Correspondent *Reporting by Tech.*