Author Topic: Kaspersky warning  (Read 7832 times)

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Offline Maik

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Kaspersky warning
« on: Saturday, 02 December, 2017 @ 16:26:24 »
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Kaspersky Labs: Warning over Russian anti-virus software

The British government has issued a fresh warning about the security risks of using Russian anti-virus software.

The National Cyber Security Centre is to write to all government departments warning against using the products for systems related to national security.

The UK cyber-security agency will say the software could be exploited by the Russian government.

Security firm Kaspersky Labs, accused in the US of being used by the Russian state for espionage, denied wrongdoing.

Kaspersky Labs is widely used by consumers and businesses across the globe, although they are not being advised to stop using the software, as well as by some parts of the UK government.

Officials stress they are not recommending members of the public or companies stop using Kaspersky software.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42202191


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Ciaran Martin, head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said Russia has the intent "to target UK central Government and the UK's critical national infrastructure" and there are "obvious risks around foreign ownership" of companies that produce anti-virus (AV) software.

Hm, Russia spying on its enemies! Unlike the CIA which, allegedly, spies on America's allies.

Facebook users probably don't need to worry too much about foreign-owned AV companies spying on them and any information not given away freely has probably been slurped away (mostly by, um, American-owned companies). But for those who are concerned about "obvious risks around foreign ownership" here's where AV companies originate:

AhnLab - South Korea
Avast - Czech Republic
AVG - Czech Republic
Avira - Germany
BitDefender - Romania
Check Point - Israel
Commodo - USA
Dr. Web - Russia
ESET - Slovakia
F-Secure - Finland
FRISK - Iceland
Fortinet - USA
G Data - Germany
Kaspersky - Russia
McAfee - USA
Malwarebytes - USA
Microsoft - USA
Panda - Spain
Qihoo 360 - China
Quick Heal - India
Sophos - England
Symantec (Norton) - USA
Trend Micro - Taiwan
TrustPort - Czech Republic
VirusBlokAda (Vba32) - Belarus
Webroot - USA

If that's not got you running for your tin hat, most computer hardware is manufactured in China and both Microsoft and Apple are based in the USA. Canonical, creators of Ubuntu Linux OS, are based in the UK.

PS: Independent tests regularly rate Kaspersky as one of the best AVs and is probably still one of a very few that can offer a decent firewall in a security suite.

Offline Maik

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Re: Kaspersky warning
« Reply #1 on: Saturday, 02 December, 2017 @ 16:49:25 »
Update to the BBC artcle:

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Barclays has stopped offering free Kaspersky software to customers as a "precautionary decision".

On Saturday, the UK bank emailed 290,000 online banking customers who had downloaded Kaspersky over the past decade - but advised those with the software already installed to take no action.

A Barclays spokesman said: "Even though this new guidance isn't directed at members of the public, we have taken the decision to withdraw the offer."

Can't see any alternative offering on Barclays website.

From the BBC article:

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Ciaran Martin, chief executive of the NCSC, said... "we see no compelling case at present to extend that advice to the wider public sector, more general enterprises, or individuals.

"Whatever you do, don't panic.

"For example, we really don't want people doing things like ripping out Kaspersky software at large as it makes little sense."

Maybe Barclays will explain the alternatives on their Facebook page.

Offline Phil

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Re: Kaspersky warning
« Reply #2 on: Sunday, 03 December, 2017 @ 21:01:44 »
No mention of Norton! ... the most memory consuming one of all?