Kaspersky, leading anti-virus program in America, is Russian.

[Honeycombe8]

It is still being pushed on the internet by various techie sites.

Kaspersky, a leading anti-virus cyber security program in America:

Kaspersky Lab. Kaspersky Lab (/kæˈspɜːrski/ ; Russian: Лаборатория Касперского, Laboratoriya Kasperskogo) is a multinational cybersecurity and anti-virus provider headquartered in Moscow, Russia and operated by a holding company in the United Kingdom.

***

Kaspersky has faced controversy over allegations that it has engaged with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)—ties which the company has actively denied. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security banned Kaspersky products from all government departments on 13 September 2017. In October 2017, subsequent reports alleged that hackers working for the Russian government stole confidential data from the home computer of an National Security Agency contractor via Kaspersky antivirus software. Kaspersky refuted the allegations, reporting that the software had detected Equation Group malware samples which it uploaded to its servers for analysis in its normal course of operation. The company has since announced commitments to increased accountability, such as soliciting independent reviews and verification of its software's source code, and announcing that it would migrate some of its core infrastructure for international customers from Russia to Switzerland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaspersky_Lab


I heard this some time ago. I assumed that it would not STILL be widely used in the U.S., but while checking on recommendations for a new anti-virus program for my home use, I was surprised to see Kaspersky still being pushed. Gee, I wonder how Russia got access to so many government and organization computers across the world so easily?

You would think that the U S gvt would have thought twice about using a Russian cyber security protection program written, sold, managed, and owned by an adverse foreign govt known to conduct cyber spying.

[NurseJackie]

1. I remember seeing it for sale at Costco...

... several years ago, but not recently. Has Costco dropped it, or just displayed it somewhere less conspicuous?

[Honeycombe8]

6. I don't remember where...not Costco. I was perusing online for an AV program...

so I passed by any Kaspersky references. I don't shop at Costco. No account there. Probably Amazon. Maybe WalMart.

I was also looking at getting a new phone (but decided to stick w/the one I have), and ran across a lot of ZTE phones on sale. I had even told a relative I'd buy his old phone, which he never used, but then found out it's a ZTE! Yikes! I'm keeping my old phone.

[roamer65]

2. It has FSB and GRU back doors.

Wipe you computer if you want to get rid of it completely.

[Honeycombe8]

8. I've never had it. Thank goodness. I've had Avast for years. nt

[NurseJackie]

12. Avast for us as well...

... for our PC's and phones. My husband and son take care of all the security settings and apps, so i trust their judgement.

[Best_man23]

10. Wipe the computer by using BCWipe or similar product

Info on BCWipe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCWipe

You can use the tools that come on the Windows or Mac discs, but not sure how good a job that would do against any really persistent malware or, well, Russian military-engineered backdoors installed by Kaspersky.

Even better, take the opportunity to upgrade the hard drive to increase space or move to solid state.

[donkeypoofed]

3. It's also been implicated in the Russia Scandal !

Don't use it - it's as bad as ZTE phones!! Data mining of American users is a good mine for them!! Kaspersky is NOT reputable !

[Honeycombe8]

4. I've updated my post about it being involved in current situation. I see ZTE phones on sale..

I see ZTE phones on sale EVERYWHERE. People who don't keep up w/the news are buying those not knowing it's a gateway for the Chinese. And Kaspersky still being sold.

These two things should be banned from being sold here.

[dalton99a]

5. Kaspersky is in bed with Russian intelligence - as required by Russian law:

https://fcw.com/articles/2018/04/30/kaspersky-lawsuit-bod-reason.aspx

More detail on why DHS banned Kaspersky
By Derek B. Johnson | Apr 30, 2018

....

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced legislation last week to clarify that the secretary of Homeland Security is not required to provide notice to private companies before issuing BODs.

Meanwhile, new filings in the case last week give some detail on the nature of U.S. objections to Kaspersky products. While media reports have detailed the role of Kaspersky Lab's antivirus program in the theft of classified information stored on the home computer of National Security Agency contractor Nghia Hoang Pho in 2015, a December 2017 memo does not mention the case or reference any redacted or classified information in its final justification.

Instead, DHS Assistant Secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications Jeanette Manfra claims that the potential threat posed by Kaspersky products alone, as well as their legal obligations under Russian law to assist the Federal Security Service on intelligence matters, pose a sufficient danger to federal networks.

....

[Honeycombe8]

9. OMG. Kaspersky is legally required to work for Russian intelligence? And the U S govt was USING it?

How STUPID is that?

[dalton99a]

14. Yep:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-11/kaspersky-lab-has-been-working-with-russian-intelligence
July 11, 2017, 4:00 AM CDT
Kaspersky Lab Has Been Working With Russian Intelligence
Emails show the security-software maker developed products for the FSB and accompanied agents on raids.
By Jordan Robertson and Michael Riley

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/technology/kaspersky-lab-israel-russia-hacking.html
How Israel Caught Russian Hackers Scouring the World for U.S. Secrets
By Nicole Perlroth and Scott Shane
Oct. 10, 2017

[Different Drummer]

7. Exactly why I don't use it. n/t

[MineralMan]

11. I never trusted that AV program.

Any time a piece of software operates in the background without my knowing what it's doing, I get nervous. My understanding has been that the Kasperky program was actually quite good at blocking viruses and malware. But...what was it up to beyond that? Who can say, really? A program like that could easily be trapping keystrokes and doing other snooping without anyone knowing about it. Those regular automatic update downloads could also be sending off your personal data at the same time.

Of course, that's true for all such programs. I just never trusted that one.

[dalton99a]

13. +1. AV software is perfect for bugging - it has privileged status to see everything on your computer

[MineralMan]

16. Yes, exactly. These days, I'm using Microsoft's Windows Defender.

I figure that Microsoft already is able to do whatever the heck it wants with my PC, anyhow. So, I might as well let it watch for viruses and other malware for me. I used to use Norton Anti-Virus, but it got too busy in the background and slowed down other things, so I dumped it, finally.

But Kaspersky? No thanks.

[dalton99a]

17. +1. I've ditched everything except Windows Defender

[MineralMan]

18. I scan occasionally with MalwareBytes.

However, I don't allow it to run in the background. Frankly, I don't trust Microsoft, either, but since it has an operating system running on my PC, I don't have much choice about that. For work, I depend on Microsoft Office, and I don't like the Mac version of it. My wife uses a Mac desktop, and I hate using it, although I can just fine.

Computers, for me, are a tool, so I use the one that works the best for the jobs I do. I don't want to bother with operating systems and hardware any more. I used to love that stuff, but it doesn't interest me any longer. I write. So I use Word.

People are always suggesting Linux and open-source word processing software. I've tried them all. I used to review word processing software for one of the largest computer magazines, and wrote a column on word processing for the same magazine. I've seen them all. I know which one works the best for what I do, so that's what I use now.

[LeftInTX]

20. With each new Windows OS, the user seems to get further from the Operating System

I remember Windows 98 and doing all the maintenance on my system.

System files were all stored in one folder, program files were all stored in another folder, documents etc were in another. I think there was a system boot master record that was hidden, that I refused to touch. Other than that everything was game.

Now program files are scattered all over the place.....etc.....When I back up any program settings, such as Firefox, I have to go to Firefox's website and figure out where the program settings are locate on the HD.

The downside to Windows 98 was DLL hell and programs crashing.

[MineralMan]

21. Well, I started with PCs with MS-DOS 2.0.

I'm pretty sure I've had every OS from MS since then. I used to know each of them intimately. Now, I pay no attention to the OS at all, really. I know where my data files and documents are. Other than that, I've stopped bothering. This year, I bought a new PC, which came with Windows 10. I moved all of my data files over to it, and never looked back. I had to switch to Office 365, since my old favorite, Office 2000 Professional was no longer compatible. No matter. Word is still Word, underneath its new interface, so the transition took no time at all. I customized the interface to suit my work style, like I've done before.

I don't miss digging into the OS stuff. I don't need it, so I'm glad not to have to do it. I'm no longer a hardware and OS guru. I gave all that up. If there's a problem I can't solve, a Google search finds a solution every time.

[ornotna]

15. never had it

never will

[hlthe2b]

19. This is not news. There has been debate for years before Fed agencies required to remove

from agency computers--a fairly recent move-- whether the perceived risk extended to personal computers. I don't use it, but I have followed the debate since 2014, as Kaspersky was always far higher rated than the packages I have used.

Here a simple google search (1st page of many) seems to show that the majority of computer experts STILL do not believe the risk extends to small home users or even small businesses. Not pushing anyone here to change their minds, but I think you should know what the computer world still thinks:

About 1,160,000 results (0.53 seconds)
Search Results
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