Kaspersky Lab becomes first Russian company added to US "national security threat" blacklist

[Avro Arrow]

Disturbing indeed, but this should not come as much of a surprise because as mentioned the DHS banned Kaspersky back in 2017.

You got that right. Not a surprise at all. It's possible that I never installed it because, in the back of my mind, I didn't trust it. It's also possible that I just never installed it by chance. Thankfully, the end result was the same.

 

[AmigaInside]

...However this is not about that, an antivirus has the potential to collect sensitive information and do all kinds of harm...

What's the technical low-down on specifically antivirus software having this potential? Why not any kind of software?

Here's a wild guess: Kaspersky software has always been hotly popular, and here's a chance to take them down. Another win for the good guys - with zero evidence of "espionage" of course.

 

[scavengerspc]

What's the technical low-down on specifically antivirus software having this potential? Why not any kind of software?

Here's a wild guess: Kaspersky software has always been hotly popular, and here's a chance to take them down. Another win for the good guys - with zero evidence of "espionage" of course.

Well, of course.

Kaspersky and the Russian government - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Russia Has Turned Kaspersky Software Into Tool for Spying

The Russian government used a popular antivirus software to secretly search computers around the world for classified U.S. government documents and top-secret information, according to current and former U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter.

www.wsj.com

Best Buy stops sale of Russia-based Kaspersky products

Best Buy Co <BBY.N>, the No.1 U.S. electronics retailer, is pulling Kaspersky Lab's cyber security products from its shelves and website, amid concerns that the Moscow-based firm may be vulnerable to Russian government influence.

www.reuters.com

Trump signs into law U.S. government ban on Kaspersky Lab software

President Donald Trump signed into law on Tuesday legislation that bans the use of Kaspersky Lab within the U.S. government, capping a months-long effort to purge the Moscow-based antivirus firm from federal agencies amid concerns it was vulnerable to Kremlin influence.

www.reuters.com

Kaspersky neutral stance in doubt as it shields Kremlin | Cybernews

Kaspersky Lab is protecting the resources of the Russian Ministry of Defence and other high-value domains that are instrumental to the Russian propaganda machine – Russia Today, TASS news agency, Gazprom bank.

cybernews.com

 

[AmigaInside]

Title says all: bans and allegations. Nothing more, and I did read the article.

I can understand the fear of "spying software" (we remember what happened with Windows 10 - hardly Russian software) but the Kaspersky bans are clearly political/business decisions, based on zero hard evidence. Surely KP is not the only A/V -or any kind of software- to collect user data? Reporting back to the ex-KGB is quite different.

Western governments want to pro-actively defend themselves from potentially spying software? Fine, be honest, admit it and do it. Just don't give me BS about Kaspersky spying on home PCs and government agencies, then phoning home to Moscow.

Also, no "free market" BS please.

 

[Trikkiedikkie]

This really sucks. We use it here at work and it is really, really good at network/workstation protection. Time to research. Thanks .gov for helping us waste thousands in having to switch.

It is so good NSA cannot get in. It is the only reading they want it gone.

 

[scavengerspc]

This really sucks. We use it here at work and it is really, really good at network/workstation protection. Time to research. Thanks .gov for helping us waste thousands in having to switch.

What waste? It's been blacklisted as a threat, not an outright ban, except for government use. I have held a few government contracts, and they provide the antivirus software and permissible networking guidelines, so what's the gripe? If you are so sure Kaspersky is being treated unfairly somehow, then just keep using it.

If you have no doubt some ghosts are not trying to screw you, then there isn't a damn thing that says you have to quit using it. It's all on you.

 

[fps4ever]

What waste? It's been blacklisted as a threat, not an outright ban, except for government use. I have held a few government contracts, and they provide the antivirus software and permissible networking guidelines, so what's the gripe? If you are so sure Kaspersky is being treated unfairly somehow, then just keep using it.

If you have no doubt some ghosts are not trying to screw you, then there isn't a damn thing that says you have to quit using it. It's all on you.

Unfortunately I live in reality and no its not all on me. That means they can withhold gov grants and tax benefits for those telecoms that don't comply. Our CEO says find different security services then that's what we do. I am currently researching other options. We understand this is mostly political but that also means real world consequences for doing nothing. Try and think outside your little box.

 

[scavengerspc]

Unfortunately I live in reality and no its not all on me. That means they can withhold gov grants and tax benefits for those telecoms that don't comply. Our CEO says find different security services then that's what we do. I am currently researching other options. We understand this is mostly political but that also means real world consequences for doing nothing. Try and think outside your little box.

So you missed that part where I said "except for government use."
Or are you ignoring it?

What's inside my little box is this. You and your load of incomplete information of the subject have decided to whine about something you don't HAVE to do.
If you are so confident that Kaspersky is getting a raw deal, then keep using it, don't come here crying about what you have to do because some really mean people hurt your feelings. You and your CEO are the ones that completely missed what this story meant. Don't try to frame me as the one that doesn't get it.

And if you really do have government contracts then I suggest you not ignore that I have already told you the government handles security, including software, for free to fit into their guidelines.

So it looks very possible that your CEO isn't fit to be put in charge of a light switch.

 

[fps4ever]

So you missed that part where I said "except for government use."
Or are you ignoring it?

What's inside my little box is this. You and your load of incomplete information of the subject have decided to whine about something you don't HAVE to do.
If you are so confident that Kaspersky is getting a raw deal, then keep using it, don't come here crying about what you have to do because some really mean people hurt your feelings. You and your CEO are the ones that completely missed what this story meant. Don't try to frame me as the one that doesn't get it.

And if you really do have government contracts then I suggest you not ignore that I have already told you the government handles security, including software, for free to fit into their guidelines.

So it looks very possible that your CEO isn't fit to be put in charge of a light switch.

You have no clue how the FCC and telecom federal subsidies work and what we are threatened with. Sure only Federal agencies are mandated to stop using it. The new ruling goes beyond federal and basically threatens to hold funds of private corporations as well. Take your ignorance that its black and white to someone that is impressed by your harsh words. I love the one track thinking of you know it all internet warriors.

 

[scavengerspc]

You have no clue how the FCC and telecom federal subsidies work and what we are threatened with. Sure only Federal agencies are mandated to stop using it. The new ruling goes beyond federal and basically threatens to hold funds of private corporations as well. Take your ignorance that its black and white to someone that is impressed by your harsh words. I love the one track thinking of you know it all internet warriors.

My problems may go even beyond that, unfortunately, because I can't find anything on your claim that "The new ruling goes beyond federal and basically threatens to hold funds of private corporations." Not a word. I don't know where else to look.

So I would appreciate if you would show me that statute and I will officially apologize. I have certainly done it here before.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Well, of course.

Kaspersky and the Russian government - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Russia Has Turned Kaspersky Software Into Tool for Spying

The Russian government used a popular antivirus software to secretly search computers around the world for classified U.S. government documents and top-secret information, according to current and former U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter.

www.wsj.com

Best Buy stops sale of Russia-based Kaspersky products

Best Buy Co <BBY.N>, the No.1 U.S. electronics retailer, is pulling Kaspersky Lab's cyber security products from its shelves and website, amid concerns that the Moscow-based firm may be vulnerable to Russian government influence.

www.reuters.com

Trump signs into law U.S. government ban on Kaspersky Lab software

President Donald Trump signed into law on Tuesday legislation that bans the use of Kaspersky Lab within the U.S. government, capping a months-long effort to purge the Moscow-based antivirus firm from federal agencies amid concerns it was vulnerable to Kremlin influence.

www.reuters.com

Kaspersky neutral stance in doubt as it shields Kremlin | Cybernews

Kaspersky Lab is protecting the resources of the Russian Ministry of Defence and other high-value domains that are instrumental to the Russian propaganda machine – Russia Today, TASS news agency, Gazprom bank.

cybernews.com

This all seems very credible to me, well except the part about Trump signing something into law. He'd sign anything into law if he was paid enough or if it strengthened his position.

 

[Darth Shiv]

They cared in Afghanistan and they will care now. The days of Stalinist Russia are long gone and Putin, try as he may, cannot take Russia back.

Afg doesn't matter to Russia like Ukraine does. There are several HUGE national security issues for Russia with Ukraine.

Ukraine possibility of joining NATO would mean a land invasion vector perilously close and indefensible to Moscow.

Ukraine fossil fuel exploration has uncovered reserves so vast they directly threaten Russian exports which are crucial for their economic stability. Western fossil fuel companies building refineries, extraction has been a ticking time bomb on Russian retaliation. This is also directly linked to Ukraine NATO membership. Russians can't sabotage Ukraine facilities anywhere near as easily if Ukraine is under the protection of NATO.

You want to see how this all makes sense - go look at what Russia did with Crimea and why. What deposits were suddenly under the Russian umbrella when Crimea was taken particularly to the west of the Crimean peninsula. HUGE reserves - Russian economy threatening scale.

Now yes Putin is committing war crimes. But several western leaders identified this scenario DECADES ago and the West slowly surreptitiously moved to this endgame. That NATO encroaching on Russian borders was inevitably going to "force" this response.

Both are situations Russia would possibly throw ALL their resources at preventing. I mean there may be no limit to how far they escalate to stop these - not if the alternative is economic collapse. We are talking about a super power choosing to collapse or not.