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Return to Article: Contractor found liable for installing counterfeit switches

• 34637
  

  Isn't there a security issue in leaving these switches installed in a DoD network? How do we know there isn't a Trojan wired or programmed into these counterfit switches?

  Erich Darr Posted October 9, 2007 10:47 AM
• 34517
  

  This situation is purely about money, most likely the contractor in an attempt to optimize profits sourced the product outside of the supply chain to get a"DEAL" on the grey market. Cisco and most manufacturers have a dedicated supply chain to avoid these types of issues. Purchasing off the grey market from ebay or these reclamation companies is a recipe for these kinds of problems. The old adage " if a deal is too good to be true, it probably is"

  Pat Hardiman Posted October 5, 2007 11:08 AM
• 34487
  

  Why is the navy keeping counterfeit switches? Can't the american military do anything right? CISCO should sue the Navy.

  Joey Rodriques Posted October 5, 2007 7:42 AM
• 34467
  

  I thought the Christian doctrine would come into play here. It is fraud against the government, and American Data had every right refusing to pay...Ciso breached the contract by it's fraud and someone from that company should go to jail!! Those switches could end up in classified, sensative areas, and who will get the blame?? Lockheed should be ashamed too, as they were the prime contractor in this fiasco....

  Richard Hardesty Posted October 4, 2007 7:11 PM
• 34154
  

  Everyone is accountable! Either here or in the hereafter, which will it be? Pay now or pay later!

  American Taxpayer Posted October 1, 2007 2:58 PM
• 34128
  

  The best way to prevent this from happening is to put the federal governments QA programs back to full force including giving the inspectors enough training and the time to properly inspect not only the product but its paperwork as well.

  W Jackson Posted October 1, 2007 11:15 AM
• 34118
  

  Let's hope that the Federal Government at least has taken notice of the fraud and will prohibit both contractors from future participation in federal contracts.

  Carl Posted October 1, 2007 10:35 AM
• 34054
  

  Setting aside the assorted legal issues dealing with the FAR and the contract(s) at hand, does no one else see a problem with leaving data network switches "counterfeited" in China installed inside an official Navy data network (and please tell me its a NIPR network not SIPR or above)? Does that not have a potential risk far beyond the counterfeit issues? These switches are software programmable, and no doubt both software and hardware modifications to these items could have been made and that they would be virtually invisible to any reasonable inspection.

  Maybe I'm paranoid - but as I recall the PRC was just caught red-handed inside some Pentagon networks.

  Maybe someone needs to look at the security risks a little more closely.

  Thomas Wood, PE Posted September 28, 2007 9:28 PM