GoKawiilSlovakia's NBU flags Russian backdoor in NERO R-ONE speed cameras
Slovakia's national security agency NBU issued an alert stating that NERO R-ONE traffic cameras purchased for a €30 million EU-funded monitoring project contain a hidden backdoor allowing shell and network access via SMS from hardcoded Russian phone numbers. The agency found the devices are rebranded versions of a Russian camera made by St. Petersburg-based Semicon, following opposition claims that the Interior Ministry bought them through a Cyprus shell company using fake certifications.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The finding raises serious questions about how Russian-made surveillance hardware entered a critical EU-funded infrastructure project despite sanctions and security vetting, and whether officials knowingly obscured the equipment's origin. Beyond the backdoor, the cameras reportedly disable SecureBoot and have vulnerable web portals, meaning the devices could be compromised even without the hardcoded access, undermining trust in national traffic surveillance systems.
- NBU says NERO R-ONE cameras are rebranded Russian CORDON PRO.M devices from Semicon.
- A backdoor allows remote shell access via SMS from hardcoded Russian numbers.
- 279 cameras were slated for installation under a €30 million EU-funded project despite ministry denials of Russian origin.
Source: risky.biz — Catalin Cimpanu, 2026-08-23
Published there as: “Slovakia finds Russian backdoor in traffic speed cameras”
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