U.S. Investigating Sale of Snort as Security Risk

msmoriarty writes "The Associated Press is reporting today that the same U.S. committee that approved the Dubai ports deal is 'strongly objecting' to Israeli-based Check Point's acquisition of Snort's parent company, Sourcefire, because it doesn't want a foreign company to own Snort's underlying technology. According to the article, the broader 45-day review process rejected for the ports deal is already underway regarding this transaction, and 'secret' meetings between the FBI, DoD and Check Point have been held."

Comments

gotta love it

[dorko16]

You've got to love how the post can have no mention of exactly what Snort is or the objectional underlying technology actually is or does.

Israelis Aren't "just fine" In Tech Industries

[cmholm]

Let's repeat that: the Israelis aren't just fine in tech industries. While there's quite a bit of cultural affinity with the US, the Israelis have a national interest which overlaps that of the US in only a few areas. Their commercial interests even less so. They have, like the French, been more than happy to sell or resell intelligence, technologies, and material to nations the US would just as soon they didn't.

In the case of Sourcefire, I suspect the goodies that go into the US Federal Govt's version of Snort are more 'interesting' than what you and I can download. And, whether it's more interesting or not, hiding information from one's adversaries isn't all about the latest rocket science. A look at what used to be classified shows that it's what seems mundane that's the most important to hide. "When is Admiral Yamamoto's plane leaving?" "Uday is in that house." "The FBI standardized on Snort 1.5.x."

It's nothing to transfer Sourcefire's IP, or the cubes where the work really gets done, or the sales and customer support data to Haifa or Tel Aviv.

Compare that to P&O's sale to - in essence - the Sheik of Dubai. The infrastructure P&O runs stay in the US, the dock workers and their management up several rungs remain American. There's pissing and moaning because Al Qaeda has links in Dubai. No shit. Dubai, Singapore, Lichtenstein, to a large degree Israel, on and on... sucessful small nations have to be hard core entreprenuerial to stay afloat, which means everybody and their uncle are running contriband and shady deals through them, in addition to Costco's jugs of olive oil. Tax havens, duty free ports, and other such city-states of commerce don't stay in business by asking too many questions.

Re:Slashdot prone to xenophobia?

[JourneyExpertApe]

Nope, I gotta agree with the GP. If you'd listened to objective coverage of the ports deal, you'd know that:

1. The ports were already in the hands of a foreign company (Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company).
2. Dubai and the UAE are US allies. The fact that a few criminals came from there does not change that.
3. The inspection of cargo will still be handled by US Customs and Border Protection.
4. Security will still be provided by the Coast Guard.

Now, Israel, on the other hand, has a history of spying on the US, including having their spies caught on US soil. I'm not familiar with Snort, but since it is computer security related, I think further investigation is probably warranted before this is allowed. Israel, while nominally a US ally, could potentially be a great threat.