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FBI Interviews Employees of Russia-Linked Cyber Security Firm Kaspersky Lab (nbcnews.com)

Posted by msmash on from the so-it-begins dept.

FBI agents on Tuesday paid visits to at least a dozen employees of Kaspersky Lab, a Russia-based cyber-security company, asking questions about that company's operations as part of a counter-intelligence inquiry, multiple sources familiar with the matter told NBC News. From a report: In a classic FBI investigative tactic, agents visited the homes of the employees at the end of the work day at multiple locations on both the east and west coasts, the sources said. There is no indication at this time that the inquiry is part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling and possible collusion. Kaspersky has long been of interest to the U.S. government. Its cyber-security software is widely used in the United States, and its billionaire owner, Eugene Kaspersky, has close ties to some Russian intelligence figures, according to U.S. officials.

19 of 43 comments (clear)

  1. Nope by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2
    Nothing to see here folks, Nothing at all.

    The fact that it is just

    So

    Damn

    easy

    To screw with people's computers, is so tempting, and is so undermining - no one would ever ever do such a thing.

    the smoke around here is getting rather thick, yes no?

    Popcorn and tequila for all!

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    1. Re: Nope by dougdonovan · · Score: 1

      i dont believe that the fbi has the intelligence to interview kaspersky at kasperskys level.

    2. Re: Nope by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      i dont believe that the fbi has the intelligence to interview kaspersky at kasperskys level.

      Which, by the way, is a darn good indicator of likely hacking, when it is so easy, glad we agree. If harming your adversary is easy, it most certainly will be done.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  2. Translation by alexo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    FBI agents told employees they were not in trouble, and that the bureau was merely gathering facts [...]

    Translation: They did not have valid warrants.

    1. Re:Translation by alexo · · Score: 2

      The police, like vampires, cannot enter a person's home uninvited. There are some exceptions to the rule, for example a warrant negates the need for an invitations, but luckily vampires rarely manage to obtain a warrant.

    2. Re:Translation by sarbonn · · Score: 3, Interesting

      What's shocking to this day is that people still don't realize that whenever a representative of a police agency (local, state or federal) asks to come in and ask questions, but doesn't have a warrant, you're basically inviting anything to happen. The amount of people who have been railroaded who probably thought "I have nothing to hide" should be enough to tell any rational person that it's not safe to answer any questions (unless you're the one instigating the investigation in the first place).

      --
      Sarbonn's blog: http://www.sarbonn.com/blog
    3. Re:Translation by h4ck7h3p14n37 · · Score: 1

      They can't force you to answer questions, period. Warrants are used for searching or seizing private property.

    4. Re:Translation by sarbonn · · Score: 1

      Yeah, the point is that the warrant allows them to come in, and that's where they usually ask you questions. Without the warrant, they can't come in, and thus, can't ask any questions if they aren't in the house to ask you questions in the first place.

      --
      Sarbonn's blog: http://www.sarbonn.com/blog
    5. Re:Translation by ebyrob · · Score: 1

      > Warrants are used for searching or seizing private property.

      Or to arrest someone, but ya...

    6. Re:Translation by triffid_98 · · Score: 1

      The police, like vampires, cannot enter a person's home uninvited

      In general yes, but there are many many exceptions. It's certainly unwise (as with fictional vampires) to invite them into your home but they may make up valid sounding excuses to come in anyway so...be prepared

      Once inside the home you can be charged with any illegal thing they see in plain view whether they have a valid warrant or not. That might seem harmless enough but we have so many illegal things that even lawyers can't keep track of it anymore, unless it applies to their particular legal specialty/region.

      They may in fact not even announce themselves as police officers. When gunmen arrive at your house at 3AM wearing all black, holding AR-15s and forcibly enter your home in a "no knock" raid it is apparently up to you to determine ahead of time that these armed gunmen invading your home are legal representatives of the government and that holding either a gun, a knife, a sharpened stick, or a cell-phone puts you at extreme risk of getting shot through the chest many many times...legally.

  3. How incompetent! by nospam007 · · Score: 2

    "In a classic FBI investigative tactic, agents visited the homes of the employees at the end of the work day..."

    Unfortunately they weren't home but in a Vodka-Bar doing 'overtime' so they had to drink Russian tea with their wives.

    1. Re:How incompetent! by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Usually two people are sent for friendly chat down interview request. One is talking and gets person to talk, other is witness to all comments made.
      Finally business card offered. Create informant.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  4. Protection racket by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Has anyone considered the possibility that antivirus companies are creating malware on the side, then selling protection against that malware? It's an online version of protection rackets, which are pretty common in Russia.

  5. Re:All car has always a backdoor, the 3rd or 5th d by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why to employees of a company? (instead of executives)

    What does the FBI want?

    A) The execs are in Russia.
    B) They want to get someone to deny a crime so they can prosecute them for lying to a federal officer even when they haven't been convicted of that crime.

  6. Russian intelligence figures by behrooz0az · · Score: 1

    Awww,
    Let me help you say it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    --
    Moderating "-1, Disagree" is simple censorship. Have the guts to post your opinion. -- Spazmania (174582)
  7. No warrants needed -- lying to the FBI is a felony by swb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You don't need a warrant when lying to the FBI is a felony by itself.

    They don't even need to convict you of whatever crime they were interested in nor do you even need to be guilty of anything, if you lie to them you have committed a felony and will go to jail for that.

    So either spill your guts completely and risk being charged with being an accessory to a conspiracy or something equally vague (hoping you're not worth the effort) or just don't even talk to them.

  8. In a classic anti - FBI investigative tactic... by Indy1 · · Score: 1

    anyone with a clue tells the Feds to go fuck themselves, and come back with a warrant. Followed by a demand for immediate legal representation.

    4th and 5th Amendments are a beautiful thing

    --
    Lawyers, MBA's, RIAA? A jedi fears not these things!
  9. Get out of here by kelanos · · Score: 1

    More "RuSSIAN HaCKeRS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" bullshit

  10. Re:No warrants needed -- lying to the FBI is a fel by alexo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That's why you should never talk to police