FBI Interviews Employees of Russia-Linked Cyber Security Firm Kaspersky Lab

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.

And?

[fubarrr]

This is rather inefficient in comparison to taking family members hostage 'till you give us that damn google play ssl certificate', as Russians did to Google's chief SRE fie Europe

Nope

[Ol Olsoc]

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!

Re: Nope

[dougdonovan]

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

Re:

[Ol Olsoc]

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.

Translation

[alexo]

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

Translation: They did not have valid warrants.

Re:

[alexo]

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.

Re:

[triffid_98]

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 o

No warrants needed -- lying to the FBI is a felony

[swb]

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.

Re:No warrants needed -- lying to the FBI is a fel

[alexo]

That's why you should never talk to police [vice.com]

Re:

[PPH]

What is your name?

What is your quest?

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Re:Translation

[sarbonn]

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).

Re:

[h4ck7h3p14n37]

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

Re:

[sarbonn]

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.

Re:

[ebyrob]

> Warrants are used for searching or seizing private property.

Or to arrest someone, but ya...

How incompetent!

[nospam007]

"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.

Re:

[AHuxley]

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.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Protection racket

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Russian intelligence figures

[Behrooz Amoozad]

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

In a classic anti - FBI investigative tactic...

[Indy1]

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

Get out of here

[kelanos]

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