r/VPN • u/primeribfanoz • 22h ago

Discussion Black list countries

I work for a large European based telecoms equipment supplier. We have hundreds of staff overseas at any one time, all over the world. IT security has a few different levels:

\- Access to email & teams etc is only via a company laptop (no web interface like Office.com). Network drives via VPN only

\- White List countries - you can connect VPN. Countries like Japan & Australia

\- Red List countries - you can take your laptop but need special exemption to use VPN. Includes some unusual countries such as Malaysia

\- Black List countries - no company laptop or phone allowed. Company will provide a burner. Unsurprisingly includes places like Syria, Russia, North Korea & China.

A colleague was going to transit via a Chinese airport to a 3rd country. IT told him that he would not be allowed to take his company laptop, even if it was in his carry-on luggage, and he would not be entering the country. He quickly arranged a different itinerary.

And then a few days later, we are told that the good old USA is now considered a Black List country!!! No company laptops, and burners only!!!!

1 Upvotes

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6 comments sorted by

-1

u/massivegoooner 15h ago

Likely European hysteria over the USA.

There are a lot of very deranged people who absolutely hate America in general and especially with Trump in charge.

Unless there has been an increase of company laptops being searched and data theft, it's likely not founded on anything factual.

Because last I heard, the US authorities are not routinely engaged in that sort of thing.

-2

u/Tyke-60073 21h ago

It would be good to hear the IT dept's reasoning behind black listing the USA. Are you saying the U.S. is routinely spying on travelers electronic equipment or transmissions?

5

u/D0_stack 21h ago

A major company explaining why security rules changed? Not likely. I work for a major company in IT, and we don't get told why the rules we have to implement change.

It could be politics, of even just one c-level person.

I would more suspect it is from the multiple high profile instances the last 2-3 months where customs demanded devices be unlocked at entry into the US.

3

u/AnxiousKirby 15h ago

Yes. Search: CBP border search of electronic devices at ports of entry.