Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

> I think it's far more likely that Mossad has infiltrated whatever foreign (non-Israeli) supply chain they were using.

Yeah. Wasn't there something in the Snowden leaks about the CIA intercepting servers in-transit to install implants on them? I'm sure Israel is doing something similar.



Photos of an NSA “upgrade” factory show Cisco router getting implant https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/05/photos-of-an-nsa...


No wonder the U.S is so worried about Huawei.


Guilty parties often cast the first accusation.


"Thief believes everybody steals"


> "Thief believes everybody steals"

The correct analogy for espionage isn't crime. But even taking that framing, if everyone actually does steal, it doesn't do you any good to be naive and deny reality.


It's a proverb, not an analogy (hence the quotes). Read it like "Just because you do X, doesn't mean that everybody else does X too"


During the cold war, Russia intercepted typewriters and teleprinters going to the US and other embassies and inserted implants in them. https://www.cryptomuseum.com/covert/bugs/selectric/


And the US CIA ran the "Swiss" firm Crypto AG, which sold cable-encryption (as in telegraphic / telex coms) equipment with pre-installed back-doors:

<https://www.npr.org/2020/03/05/812499752/uncovering-the-cias...>

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypto_AG>


It was Cisco routers that made the headlines. Not sure of other gear: https://www.engadget.com/2014-05-16-nsa-bugged-cisco-routers...





Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: