U.S. official says pre-infected computer tech entering country

[Jack]

Confirming years of warnings from government and private security experts, a top Homeland Security official has acknowledged that computer hardware and software is already being imported to the United States preloaded with spyware and security-sabotaging components.

The remarks by Greg Schaffer, the Department of Homeland Security's acting deputy undersecretary for national protection and programs, came Thursday during a tense exchange at a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The panel is considering an Obama administration proposal to tighten monitoring and controls on computer equipment imported for critical government and communications infrastructure.

Schaffer didn't say whether the equipment he was talking about included end-user consumer tech like retail laptops, DVDs and media players. If so, his comments, first reported Friday morning by Fast Company, would be the first time the United States has publicly confirmed that foreign consumer technology is arriving in the country already loaded with nasty bugs like key-logging software, botnet components and even software designed to defeat security programs installed on the same machine.

DHS did not respond to requests to clarify Schaffer's remarks.

Read more

"Cybersecurity: Assessing the Nation's Ability to Address the Growing Cyber Threat"

 

[illumination]

Seen this on the news, it is interesting. Especially around 51 minutes into the video!

 

[K__M]

I have a bad feeling about this... idea?

It better not end up in my laptop or i will be p/o'd

 

[Vextor]

This is just an idiot decision from the US Government. Why didn't they stop it at it's source?
(NOTE: I HAVEN'T WATCHED THE VIDEO)

 

[HeffeD]

This is just an idiot decision from the US Government. Why didn't they stop it at it's source?

You're suggesting that the US government has some sort of control over foreign manufacturing? :huh:

 

[davhag64]

Saved to faves to watch later. Got my grandson this week.

 

[Gnosis]

Makes me glad that my PC is custom built by someone I trust.

 

[Jack]

Nearly every pc and chipset manufacturer has moved their production to a 3rd world country.Why? Global economy.Every company will try to lower their production costs with cheaper labor work.
The fact of the matter is that any imported hardware which is preloaded with spyware is ordered by the mother company in the US.
Lets take a example :

This is Apple's Production Plant in China.Yes , China. As you know recently Apple was accused of tracking their users location.
Does the Production Plant has any fault in all of this ? The answer is No.
Apple headquarter has sent an order on how to assembly the product and they've execute that order.

It's an insane idea to even think that companies will move their production plants back in the US or that the government can tell them how to run their business.