FBI probe nets counterfeit Chinese networking parts (Cisco with backdoors?)

www.news.com ^ | May 10, 2008 10:45 AM PDT | Posted by Steven Musil

[dennisw]

The FBI announced Friday that an investigation into counterfeit network components made in China and sold to the U.S. government has recovered about 3,500 fake devices with a value of $3.5 million.

The criminal probe, code-named Operation Cisco Raider, was prompted by concerns that counterfeit network components could give hackers access to government databases. But one U.S. official told Reuters that the components discovered by the FBI are not believed to have made government computer systems more vulnerable.

The existence of the probe came to light after an unclassified FBI PowerPoint presentation in January on the agency's efforts to counter the production and distribution of counterfeit network hardware showed up on Abovetopsecret.com.

"This unclassified briefing was never intended for broad distribution or posting to the Internet," James Finch, assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, said in a statement.

Operation Cisco Raider involved 15 investigations at nine FBI field offices and the execution of 39 search warrants, the bureau said. The FBI release did not mention if any arrests had been made.

Components included pirated versions of Cisco Systems routers as well as switches, interface converters and wide area network interface cards, Reuters reported.

[dennisw]

The intelligent speculation is that Chinese H1-B workers stole the Cisco technology and back doors were installed to spy on others. The US government bought these fakes. Security has been greatly compromised.

Cisco got the cheap imported workforce it demanded and we get screwed via security breeches

[Uncle Ike]

” counterfeit network components made in China and sold to the U.S. government “

There’s the part we weren’t supposed to notice...

The *real* headline is:

“US Government Buys Many Counterfeit Network Components”

[unixfox]

Banks use a ton of Cisco products. Wonder how many have been infiltrated.

[rocksblues]

Anything that happens to Cisco as a result of this is well deserved. Go Avaya!

[dljordan]

“But one U.S. official told Reuters that the components discovered by the FBI are not believed to have made government computer systems more vulnerable.”

Right. Next lie please.

[Leisler]

The US Government just shot down Chinese Communist General from buying 3-Com. Of course they knew they couldn't have a major share so they needed to hire a beard, a front man, a agent. Bain Company. Mitt Romney's.

The Chi Comms were taking openly about 16 percent. Bain the rest. Where was Bain Capital getting the money? From ‘Hong Kong Banks’. Wink wink, nod nod.

[truthguy]

This is so common in Silicon Valley. There are thousands of Chinese spies all over the area. They are also in just about any other area which has technology or industrial capacity. They are on just about every college campus. They are not majoring in Liberal Arts. Many of the Chinese spies are U.S. citizens. I have heard from reliable sources that many thousands of Americans of Chinese ancestry spy for China.

Of course the the media will not report on this problem-too politically correct. The economic value of the information that Chinese spies take out of the United States is in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually.

Think about it the next time you purchase a product made in China. I know that sometimes it is difficult not to buy Chinese made products but I try not to buy from China whenever I can. Many times the only product you can buy is from China. Even if it means paying more I try not to buy from China.

[JACKRUSSELL]

A ping list dedicated to exposing the quality, safety and security issues of food and other products made in China.


Please FReepmail me if you would like to be on or off of the list.

(This can be a high volume ping list.)

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

Cisco PING!

[elpadre]

Is it possible to require all sensitive equipment and material used by DOD or any agency, be manufactured in the US? If we don't have manufacturers to do the job, then make it worth their while to do so.

We geared up quickly in WWII, and at critical times since. as we are definitely at war now, do what it takes.

We are killing ourselves.

[pissant]

Just the very tip top of the iceberg. The China appeasers make me sick.

[Incorrigible]

Better be getting back to work closing those managed ports!

[visually_augmented]

dennisw: “Cisco got the cheap imported workforce it demanded and we get screwed via security breeches”.

Explain to me how Cisco becomes complicit in this? From the article is seems that Cisco was the victim of these fakes:

“Components included pirated versions of Cisco Systems routers as well as switches, interface converters and wide area network interface cards, Reuters reported.”

And Cisco has been fighting for years against the industrial espionage running rampant in the technology sector:

http://www.itworld.com/Man/2681/030610huawai/

[af_vet_rr]

You all are not going to believe this:

FBI: China may use counterfeit Cisco routers to penetrate U.S. networks

Among the purchasers of the fake equipment were the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center, U.S. Air Base at Spangdahelm, Germany, the Bonneville Power Administration, General Services Administration, and the defense contractor Raytheon, which makes key missile and weapons systems.

The FBI briefing slides on the case stated that while there are “intelligence gaps” on why the Chinese made the counterfeit equipment it could have been for profit or as part of a state-sponsored operation.

Additionally the scope of the Chinese counterfeit equipment may extend beyond routers to include fake IT equipment such as PCs and printers.

Under a section titled “The Threat,” the FBI described the effort as “IT subversion/supply chain attack” that could “cause immediate or premature system failure during usage.”

The briefing slide said the Chinese information warfare efforts require “intimate access to target systems.”

[Smokin' Joe]

see here

Made in USA might not be enough...

[dennisw]

READ IT AND WEEP!

[af_vet_rr]

If I had to pick the worst out of those - it would be Raytheon, U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, and U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

We just have to keep reminding ourselves that President Bush has told us many times that China is our friend ;-)