Server maker Super Micro to ditch ‘made-in-China’ parts on spy fears – Nikkei Asian Review
What happened: Server maker Super Micro Computer has asked its suppliers to stop manufacturing parts in China, according to Nikkei Asian Review. The California-based company’s U.S. customers have reportedly requested motherboards that were not produced in China, following claims in October that malware-infected chips were planted by Chinese spies in motherboards that made their way to U.S. government servers.
Why it’s important: The October claims by Bloomberg were contested by Super Micro, saying there was a “lack of proof” indicating their motherboards had been compromised during the manufacturing process. Nevertheless, it agreed to undergo a review of its products, and according to Nikkei, independent testing showed no evidence of cyber espionage. Super Micro has committed to expanding its in-house manufacturing capabilities and doesn’t seem to be alone in leaving China: between 2017 and 2018, the number of Chinese-made motherboards in the world’s servers dropped from approximately 90 percent to 50 percent.