By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
A Russian firm with close ties to the Kremlin created the code used by the FBI’s fingerprint-analysis software, raising concerns that foreign hackers may be able to obtain sensitive biometric information on millions of Americans, according to documents and two whistleblowers.
Authorities also are worried that Russians could compromise national security by infiltrating the FBI’s computer systems, BuzzFeed reports.
The software also is used by roughly 18,000 of other law enforcement agencies in the U.S.
The Russian code was inserted into the fingerprint system by a French company, a former subsidiary of the Paris-based conglomerate Safran, which concealed Russia’s involvement from U.S. officials.
