Two US men charged with running phony Cisco biz
Two Kansas men have been charged with making $1m in proceeds by buying computer networking gear in China and passing it off as products from Cisco Systems. Christopher Myers, 40, and Timothy Weatherly, 27, obtained the networking gear from a variety of sources and then slapped phony Cisco labels on them, according to documents …
"Security experts have warned that counterfeit networking gear could contain back doors that allow spies to conduct industrial espionage on US companies"
Security experts who are highly paid by the vendors whose kit is being ripped off are bound to say that. Now I'm not saying it's right (but then there seem to be plenty of people here who think copied music and movies is OK) but the fake kit that they produce in China is normally identical to the stuff produced by the contract manufacturing company in, er, China come to think of it; this is normally because it's the same kit from the same factory but sold through a different channel.
So just like movie and music piracy it's not stealing is it?
Flame on, Friday freetards!
"...the fake kit that they produce in China is normally identical to the stuff produced by the contract manufacturing company in, er, China come to think of it; this is normally because it's the same kit from the same factory but sold through a different channel."
Where did you source this from or is this just a guess or a reiteration of a rumour?
It just so happens that I have some contacts in China who produce designer Western goods who would say what you claim is near impossible. So if the Cisco (or whichever company you believe is doing it) factory is over-producing goods then it would be interesting to hear where this information came from and how they get to do it with all the restrictions in place.
Also most factory owners are so proud of their Western contracts that they would never do anything to jeopardise the relationship. Zhang Shuhong committed suicide when his factory was implicated in the Mattel lead paint scandal - they had been making Mattel toys for 15 years.
Different countries have different set of ethics and laws when it comes to protecting IP.
There are some truths to where factories that produce a western product on a contract basis are also producing the knockoffs that flow out a different part of the factory.
So to say that the Chinese will never do that... sorry you're talking out of your arse.
The bigger problem isn't copyright infringement but the laws concerning product injury. The guy who killed himself over the lead paint did so, not because he made copies but that he created a dangerous product that caused harm. The melamine milk scandal, I believe called for a death sentence. So the point is that the penalties are severe.
With respect to Cisco kit being faked, is nothing new. But hey! That's what you get when you outsource and offshore your manufacturing to countries that don't have the same respect for IP and laws protecting IP.
CRN (Computer Reseller News) did an article a couple of years ago. Looking at the kit, I couldn't tell the difference, but I'm not inspecting it, just judging from photos. Back then the manufacturers were the ones printing the labels, boxes, etc ... Looks like China has cracked down so that now they sell the boxes, sans logos and the dupes in the US now are the ones counterfeiting it. (fake labels and manuals).
With respect to implementing back doors, oh yeah, its possible. Very possible. Which is why Cisco should create a version of their products manufactured here in the US which would sell at a premium.
Be afraid, very afraid.
It's not as if the people buying the euipment would ever have splashed out all the money real Cisco equipment costs.
Oh, hang on, this isn't designer handbags or MP3s is it? Do we support infringment of trademarks and forgery for expensive IT equipment or not?
Kind of reminds me of the Simpsons episode where they buy food from different counters at the mall's Food Court, and it all comes from the same vat of gunk in the basement.
Can we get a "meh" icon, please?
"Myers also stands accused of obtaining access to a website containing Cisco's confidential serial numbers,"
Now that sure casts a huge shadow on Cisco. Any more details on how he achieved this?
"There are some truths to where factories that produce a western product on a contract basis are also producing the knockoffs that flow out a different part of the factory.
So to say that the Chinese will never do that... sorry you're talking out of your arse."
Rather than clumping together "the Chinese" do you have any specific proof or evidence that this is "normally because it is the same kit from the same factory". Also you say "some truth" which bit of the truth is the some truth?
Until you go to China and see the security involved in the many parts of the production then please don't just start being offensive to get your point across.
I used to think the same - that many of the goods were just part of "over production" and were sold off separately but after being shown a factory and had it explained to me I thought a bit harder about the realities of it.
I can assure you I have done more business in China than you have.
What I am not saying is that fakes are not made in China that may be almost identical. We had one of our products faked in China and it was near identical - as it was a medical device though it never worked properly as it was far more than fitting the right electronics together.
Your comment about the death of Zhang Shuhong was not related to the death penalty or the milk scandal. Please become more informed and you will, mayb,e think before getting too excited with your replies.
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread350381/pg1
I like the slide that shows the US Navy bought some of these counterfeit ones.......
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