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Russia Inspecting US Government Software: Why It Matters

Posted: January 26, 2018 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Data Breach, Malware, Cloud Security

It's impossible to have missed all the talk about Russian hacking over the last year, so you would think the last thing any US tech company would do its to let Russians look for vulnerabilities in security software, but that's just what some major tech companies that are used by the US government have done. McAfee, SAP, and Symantec let Russian authorities look through software source code to see if they could find vulnerabilities. This was done, they say, in order to sell to Russian markets. Russia says the reviews are needed in order to make sure the software isn't open to attacks from hackers. The companies maintain that the reviews were done under supervision and no recording devices were allowed, not even pencils. That's all well and good, but giving a skilled programmer access to source code, even for a short time, can compromise the software. One defense analyst noted that they know Russia has people who can spot vulnerabilities by just looking at source code because the US has people who can do that, too. The list of government agencies using software that was reviewed by Russia is extensive. It includes the FBI, NASA, the Pentagon, and the State Department.

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Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

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