Crackdown On Counterfeit Networking Gear

angry tapir writes "US agencies targeting the sale of counterfeit networking hardware have gotten 30 felony convictions, including a man attempting to sell fake networking equipment to the US Marine Corps, and seized $143 million worth of fake Cisco hardware. The agencies have conducted Operation Network Raider, which has made 700 separate seizures of networking equipment since 2005, the DOJ said. In addition to the convictions and seizures, nine people are facing trial and another eight defendants are awaiting sentencing."

Re:Good news, I suppose

[Anonymous Coward]

I'll take a stand and say, "meh."

Daaumn. To feign to be unimpressed on slashdot. Balls of steel, man... balls of steel.

The only kind of "intellectual property" I support

[Anonymous Coward]

Trademarks. They're a form of honesty in advertising.

Re:What's really scary....

[couchslug]

Knowingly selling defective or fraudulent merchandise to DoD should be considered sabotage (it IS sabotage) and the offenders executed.

Be it an engine part that fails or comm equipment that breaks down or a mortar fuse that detonates the round in the mortar tube, knowingly selling bad or fake goods to DoD is sabotage.

back doors

[h00manist]

Question -- are the original back doors real or fake on the original routers, and on the fake routers ?

I wonder who really makes this stuff?

[Bearhouse]

...attempting to sell fake networking equipment to the US Marine Corps...

After all the polemic about cyber-attacks from Russia & China, this could be more sneaky. Mass-produce some Cisco knock-offs, with a backdoor, and sell 'em cheap...I can see it now:

NetAdmin1: "So, no worried about $latest_attack, then?

NetAdmin2: "Nah, just installed the latest Cisco gear. Got a good price too!!!