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DHS Admits Knowledge of Infected Import Tech
smitty777 writes "Deputy Undersecretary Schaffer of the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate confessed to being aware of foreign technology that had been imported with spyware, malware, and other security risks. According to the article, 'More worryingly, the hearing specifically mentioned hardware components as possibly being compromised — which raises the questions of whether, perhaps, something as innocuous as Flash memory or embedded RFID chips could be used by interested foreign parties.' These hearings were held on July 7th to 'examine the nature and extent of the current threat to America's infrastructure.'"
Spying on Americans is our business!
Spy on us ? Why, that would indicate some amount of distrust. Why would the government distrust us? They are here to serve us, and our opinions are really important to them - we event vote for them for crying out loud. I sure know my vote counts, I see it all the time. Every big decision the government makes (you know, healthcare, civil liberties, where/when we go to war), a vote is called and we only do if the majority are game. I mean, this is a democracy, right? That's what we do. America - full of proud citizens whose relationship with their government is forged with a mutual respect and understanding.
mov ah, 4ch
int 21h
Go watch the video of the hearing and listen to what Schaffer actually said. All he says is that he is aware of cases in which products have come into the US with vulnerabilities. He doesn't say a thing about it being done intentionally or that China is doing it or anyone else is doing it. The question was crappy and badly worded, too. 52 minute mark. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFlgaJa4UVk
It would be even cheaper to buy a nice, respectable-looking pre-aged shell company(complete with years of respectable history, in a state with corporate disclosure rules approximately as stiff as Somalia's... Add a lawyer as a corporate officer to gain attorney-client privilege for just a small additional fee!) and then sell counterfeit parts re-marked as True, Blue, All-American ones.
If you suffer the comparatively unlikely misfortune of getting caught, just fold the shell and buy another one! It's not like you are dealing pot or anything serious, so the risk of having the consequences make it past your corporate person and back to you personally are well worth the profit...