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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.

7 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.
  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. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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