India, China Try Import Regulations As Security Tools

An anonymous reader writes "The Register reports that the Chinese government is forcing vendors to cough up the source code to their encryption alogrithms before they can sell their equipment to the Chinese government. The EU doesn't seem to like it, but if I were in their position I'd want the same thing." China's biggest neighbor goes further; another anonymous reader writes "Telco equipment from China could have spyware that gives access to telcom networks in India. The Indian government has officially told mobile operators not to import any equipment manufactured by Chinese vendors, including Huawei and ZTE. The ban order follows concerns raised by the Home Ministry that telecom equipment from some countries could have spyware or malware that gives intelligence agencies across the border access to telecom networks in India. The biggest gainers from the move could be Ericsson, Nokia, and Siemens, which have been losing market share to aggressive Chinese equipment-makers in India."

Re:Copying

[Jawn98685]

Yes, but you can then buy "Genyooine Cisko Router" for only $199 American dollar, so is good deal for everybody.

Re:Copying

[game kid]

That one sucks. I prefer "Ginuwine Sisqó Router" because its Web interface has lots of thongs and double entendres.

China good, India bad

[daoshi]

I think China's move makes sense - they just want to check and make sure there is no backdoor in your code/algo. As an earlier post said "Good encryption does not rely on obfuscation of code and processes." They trust what the users want to encrypt, just making sure the devices are not leaking the info to uninvited parties.

As for India, this is very bad. They are just paranoid. This sets up a very bad example. They are scaring off all the business partners and hence the opportunities. Think if you are a vendor, how can you be sure that they would never do the same thing to you one day?

Re:The only encryption algorithms worth a damn

[Monkeedude1212]

Hey, MD5 was perfectly fine until your type started investigating it.

See, we've had Quantum Encryption for a while now!

Re:I would want this too

[denis-The-menace]

You mean like PGP that will now be made by Symantec?

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=10/04/29/1552249 [slashdot.org]

Re:The only encryption algorithms worth a damn

[elrous0]

Who the hell knows what's inside the Diebold voting machines?

Karl Rove.

Re:The only encryption algorithms worth a damn

[c0d3g33k]

He must cramp up after awhile and need to change position. Surely someone could hear him shifting around inside after that.

Re:The only encryption algorithms worth a damn

[elrous0]

He can go without moving or needed sustenance for months at a time. But when they pull him out, he can eat almost an entire herd of baby seals to restore his winter coat.

Re:Copying

[grcumb]

That one sucks. I prefer "Ginuwine Sisqó Router" because its Web interface has lots of thongs and double entendres.

Bollocks. My Honour Brand Enlightened Crisco router also makes our fried chicken taste less greasy. It's true! I took the paper towel test!

The missus loves it.