Kaspersky: You can trust us despite US government ban

[tao]

Eugene Kaspersky has denied that the cyber-security firm he founded is close to the Russian government and insists it poses no danger to its American customers.

 

Mr Kaspersky told the BBC that the Trump administration's move to ban government agencies from using his products was an "uncomfortable situation". The US has said it is concerned that Kaspersky is vulnerable to influence from the Kremlin.

 

But the company's founder said that while he lived in Moscow and his firm co-operated with Russian law enforcement on cyber-security, there were no deeper ties.

 

"When they say we have strong ties with Russian espionage it's not true," he told me via a video call from Argentina.

 

"We co-operate with many law enforcement agencies around the world - in the past with the US as well."

'Unfair competition'

The American store chain Best Buy has stopped selling Kaspersky products, but Mr Kaspersky said he had had positive discussions with other retailers.

 

The Kremlin has criticised the US government's actions, describing the ban as unfair competition.

 

Eugene Kaspersky said he wanted relations between the two countries to improve and called for international co-operation on cyber-security - he insisted that "only the bad guys are happy with this situation".

 

The problem for the company is that Russia is now seen as a haven for hackers and cyber-criminals, and its government is widely accepted to have interfered in last year's American presidential election.

 

That means that a Russian business offering cyber-security software may struggle to convince American consumers to buy products that their own government suggests are unsafe.

 

But Mr Kaspersky said the Americans could have full access to his company's activities: "We will open every door, check everything. We don't have any secrets, we don't do anything bad against our customers and against governments."

 

While he described the revenue his firm earns from the US government as "close to zero", the wider US market accounts for about a quarter of Kaspersky's sales.

 

He had this appeal to his American customers: "Please stay with us - you can trust us."

 

< Here >

 

[steven36]

 

Quote

 

Confusion hits consumer market over U.S. ban of Kaspersky software

 

NEW YORK — Worries rippled through the consumer market for antivirus software after the U.S. government banned federal agencies from using Kaspersky Lab software on Wednesday. Best Buy and Office Depot said they will no longer sell software made by the Russian company, although one security researcher said most consumers don't need to be alarmed.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security cited concerns about possible ties between unnamed Kaspersky officials and the Kremlin and Russian intelligence services. The department also noted that Russian law might compel Kaspersky to assist the government in espionage.

Kaspersky has denied any unethical ties with Russia or any government. It said Thursday that it will continue to get its product to customers "through its website and other prominent retailers." Kaspersky software is used by consumers in both free and paid versions, available both online and in stores.
To uninstall or not uninstall

The U.S. government action raised the question of whether those users should follow the U.S. government's lead. Some companies sought to tread carefully, addressing questions from customers who asked about it without alarming those that didn't.

"We've had few customers raise concerns, but for those that have, we've offered advice on how to remove Kaspersky from their computers," said Craig VerColen, spokesman for Boston-based software provider LogMeIn, which offers Kaspersky as a complimentary perk to small businesses buying its products.

Nicholas Weaver, a computer security researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, called the U.S. government decision "prudent;" he had argued for such a step in July. But he added by email that "for most everybody else, the software is fine."

Minimizing risk

Other experts, however, suggested that consumers should also uninstall Kaspersky software to avoid any potential risks. Michael Sulmeyer, director of a cybersecurity program at Harvard, noted that antivirus software has deep access to one's computer and network.

"Voluntarily introducing this kind of Russian software in a geopolitical landscape where the U.S.-Russia relationship is not good at all, I think would be assuming too much risk," he said. "There are plenty of alternatives out there."

The government ban should alarm any company that has been relying on Kaspersky's software to protect its business, said Nate Fick, CEO of computer security specialist Endgame.

"I don't think this is political posturing here, but a sign that there is some real risk," Fick said. As a result, he expects most companies to find another alternative to Kaspersky. "It is all about risk mitigation in cybersecurity, and this is an easy risk mitigation to make," he said.

Best Buy was the first big retailer this month to announce it would stop selling the software. Office Depot Inc. followed Thursday. Amazon, which also sells Kaspersky software, declined to comment. Staples, another seller of the software, didn't return a message seeking comment.

A Russian company with ties to Russia

Various U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies and several congressional committees are investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Kaspersky said it is not subject to the Russian laws cited in the directive and said information received by the company is protected in accordance with legal requirements and stringent industry standards, including encryption.

Russia also came to its defense Thursday, with a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin criticizing the U.S. ban.

Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday the move "cast a shadow over the image of our American colleagues as reliable partners" and was designed to cripple Kaspersky's competitive advantage on the international market.

Company spokesman Anton Shingarov said Thursday in Moscow that the U.S. ban was "part of a geopolitical game" and "there is no proof provided of any improper ties to the Russian government."

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/09/14/confusion-hits-consumer-market-over-u-s-ban-kaspersky-software/666211001/

 

[steven36]

 

Quote

 

The Latest: Office Depot to stop selling Kaspersky software

 

NEW YORK — The Latest on Kaspersky Lab software (all times local):

Office Depot says it will no longer sell anti-virus software made by Russian company Kaspersky Labs, a day after the U.S. government banned federal agencies from using it.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday cited concerns about Kaspersky’s possible ties to the Kremlin and Russian intelligence services as the reason for the ban. Moscow-based Kaspersky has denied any unethical ties with Russia or any government.

Electronics retailer Best Buy Co. has also stopped selling Kaspersky’s software.

Office Depot Inc. says it plans to offer an in-store service where anyone who has purchased Kaspersky software, even from another store, can have their computers switched over to McAfee ant-virus software for a fee. The company hasn’t determined how much it will charge for that service yet.

Kaspersky didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/the-latest-office-depot-to-stop-selling-kaspersky-software/2017/09/14/878b2626-9964-11e7-af6a-6555caaeb8dc_story.html

 

[Israeli_Eagle]

Who would ever trust Trumpsters and Trumpland anyway??

[steven36]

27 minutes ago, Israeli_Eagle said:

Who would ever trust Trumpsters and Trumpland anyway??

LOL  it's not even a issue of who would trust Trump or the USA . That dont have nothing too do with it if you dont trust the USA  id advise  you not use Windows  ..I live in the USA and I even i dont trust the Government  about most things regardless  of witch admin is in charge in the White House . This is  the other way around. It's a Issue of Kaspersky  is going to have too convince the American  people  to keep trusting Kaspersky  when the Government is saying not too . Hes going  to have to have proof too show the American  people there is no risk using it. Begging people  want cut it and talking about it want work ether.

[Pequi]

The biggest producers of high tech government-funded malware say "Don't use Kaspersky", but don't give any logical reasons why.

Reads like an ad to me.

:)

[Israeli_Eagle]

8 minutes ago, steven36 said:

LOL  it's not even a issue of who would trust Trump or the USA . That dont have nothing too do with it if you dont trust the USA  id advise  you not use Windows  ..I live in the USA and I even i dont trust the Government  about most things regardless  of witch admin is in charge in the White House . This is  the other way around. It's a Issue of Kaspersky  is going to have too convince the American  people  to keep trusting Kaspersky  when the Government is saying not too . Hes going  to have to have proof too show the American  people there is no risk using it. Begging people  want cut it and talking about it want work ether.

 

So what?? Then simply switch on brain, use a pure VPN connection (no app needed) and then kick asses against Trumpland!

[steven36]

Just now, Israeli_Eagle said:

 

So what?? Then simply switch on brain, use a pure VPN connection (no app needed) and then kick asses against Trumpland!

you're people help put him in there they were the biggest funders of his campaign and VPN alone  dont give you anonymity no how and you're off topic. How is you using a vpn going convince the USA too keep buying Kaspersky?

[Israeli_Eagle]

6 minutes ago, steven36 said:

you're people help put him in there they were the biggest funders of his campaign and VPN alone  dont give you anonymity no how and you're off topic. How is you using a vpn going convince the USA too keep buying Kaspersky?

 

That's anyway a very different topic... The internet world is 99% full of super-noobs, they not know what a Byte is. No AV ever will protect them fully. So.....

 

[steven36]

19 minutes ago, Israeli_Eagle said:

 

That's anyway a very different topic... The internet world is 99% full of super-noobs, they not know what a Byte. So...

Man if you dont have nothing add to the topic why bother ? more off topic redrick  i come here too learn and not watch the members spam comments with nothing . You offer no nothing too convince people too keep using this product . And if you use it  based on the USA Government  dislikes it you are no better than them.. you let politics dictate you're security and must be a noob yourself. I never used security software based on user opinion  , AV test  or politics .. I use mine because it does what it says it will do and gives me very little problems . Nobody but a noob would be looking for a opinion and cant make there own software choices .

[Pequi]

I'm afraid it's history repeating itself

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Lantern_%28software%29

Most AVs decided to "play along" with the US Government and not detect the keylogger.

Trouble is "bad guys" were also using the same malware to datamine victims. (Just for a minute assume US Government == "good guys")

The AV companies that DID detect it were denigrated by the press.

This time it's Kaspersky that's not playing along. There is absolutely no reason to ban or stop selling an AV just because it has "government links". I can't think of a major AV that does not.

[bb2018]

When you go in search of honey you must expect to be stung by bees. ?

[steven36]

Most of these places that  stop selling  it many  of there employees  take payoff from the feds  . The FBI is using them for info for all kinds of stuff  from terrorism too CP . Any software supplier that follows the Government's lead when it's not been made law in the private sector must be taking kickbacks from the government . The software is not been removed  from the private sector and cant be without the isps banning  ips too get updates and still you could get updates via vpn. It's not a win for a store to stop stocking something that people buy it means less stuff they are selling .
 

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20151211/06214233054/fbi-director-says-smart-people-office-supply-companies-can-help-limit-terrorists-access-to-pen-paper.shtml

I'ts the Media  that's scaring people these stores only cover a small percent of users.

 

 

2 hours ago, Pequi said:

This time it's Kaspersky that's not playing along. There is absolutely no reason to ban or stop selling an AV just because it has "government links". I can't think of a major AV that does not.

It's really no different than Russia's big bother law in this respect expect the FEDS in the USA are doing what they always done spy on people with black opt programs and have Big Tech partners . In Russia they passed laws were VPNs and IMs  have too store logs are be banned so there forcing data retention on big tech to keep tabs on there  people. 

 

You worried  about a USA backdoor in antivirus. When nowadays there in browsers and other software too and even in Hardware as well.. not using a AV from the USA or anywhere else  is going protect us from black opt programs .  The Internet itself  is just one big keylogger every site is logging people all the time for what ever reasons some say for quality and security reasons  and some are just flat out selling you're data  too anyone who will buy it. 

 

You story sounds about as lame as those  people i seen on other forums that are conspiracy theorist that stop using Kapersky at there homes based on what the USA Government done. Does Kapersky detect Microsoft , Google and Apple as a keyloggler?  Because they have internal  engines too spy on people in there stuff . Windows 10 most likely has a house in it were the CIA live.

 

You know what the biggest problem is  on the internet today other than antivirus and  VPNs  there is no competition  in the world markets . Most people uses a USA made OS  , The most popular web sites are USA  . Most people use Microsoft and Gmail for email .  Most people use Facebook , Netfilx , YouTube   the list goes on and on  Countries need too become more self dependent  it's just like Kaspesky if they was self dependent on there own country they would not have these problems . You have these people who live in other Countries that complain but turn around and use USA services and software because they want to be popular . Only people who care about there privacy use alternatives.. whats this 1 out  of a 100 and even  most of us that use alternatives say i use alternatives but  i still use this or that out of convenience   .  I wish there were lot more stuff too chose from on the internet from other countries .

 

Countries like China  have wised up too it and are trying too become independent from the world . Nobody in the USA uses much Chinese software anymore and they dont complain about  it because they are very  strong  in other markets  and trade lots with the USA. They have threaten too ban windows more than once .  The people in charge in the USA  now got elected by saying buy American only  they didn't say whole world had too they was talking about themselves . 

 

I thought Kapersky  had there own OS  now what happen too it?

[knowledge-Spammer]

Office Depot Inc. says it plans to offer an in-store service where anyone who has purchased Kaspersky software, even from another store, can have their computers switched over to McAfee ant-virus software for a fee. The company hasn’t determined how much it will charge for that service yet.

Kaspersky didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

i can say 100% McAfee ant-virus will not want to fight with Kaspersky  noways

  i see y Kaspersky  not make comment its a funny one this

 

 

 

[UnknownOne]

ffs .. so all the backdoors included in the US product Windows (like DCOM (port 135) which recently got patched again , Not to mention 'telemetry'  ) should be trusted instead of an antivirus. Maybe there is an unknown hidden protocol used to relay their data on a hardware level so it can't be seen.. That way they can get their 'Intel'..

Generally if the US says don't use it.. you probably should cause it doesn't fit with their agenda

trust the US the one's who kept exploits secret, used them to infiltrate and spy on the world.. go for it .. lol

[jdawg334]

Yeah if the Govt bans it then that's the best one to get IMO. I hadn't paid much attention to Kaspersky probably because they aren't ranked the best on the reviews I know better than to use Windows defender or Norton specifically because they are US owned. Avira and Bitdefender are always on top in the reviews and their free version beats a paid Norton. Apparently, Kaspersky isn't that bad either.

[steven36]

 

Quote

 

Feds whack Kaspersky—now what?

 

 

In a memorable episode of “The Sopranos,” Tony and two lieutenants murder a colleague they discovered has turned FBI informant. They shoot “Big Pussy” on his boat and shove his weighted body into the ocean off New Jersey. In the pre-whack interrogation, they discover he’d flipped more than a year earlier.  Thus, damage was done.

This show came to mind when reading the Homeland Security binding operational directive to whack the cybersecurity software company Kaspersky Lab. The BOD has the cybersecurity world quivering; DHS gives agencies 90 days to remove Kaspersky products and software from their networks. Agencies have now less than 30 days to identify what Kaspersky products they use before they begin removing them.

Talk about a fire drill.

If Kaspersky is evil, then it’s got another 90 days to exfiltrate sensitive information, beyond the many years it’s already been doing so. If it’s totally above board, it’s getting unfairly caught up in broader political questions concerning Russia.

 Yeah, it’s complicated.

But the Kaspersky question has been spreading for months. A Senate provision in the Defense Authorization bill would ban the company from selling to the government. FBI agents visited the homes of Kaspersky employees, according to several published reports. National Security Agency director Adm. Mike Rogers told senators he was personally involved in watching Kaspersky. Eugene Kaspersky himself has offered to let U.S. federal officials examine its source code.

DHS says it’s concerned that, under Russian law, intelligence agencies there have access to data about U.S. federal networks generated by Kaspersky software. DHS cites ties to the Russian government and certain Kaspersky officials. Kaspersky rebuts DHS’s contentions. DHS has given Kaspersky the chance to provide a written response. More might come out at a House Science Committee hearing later this month where Kaskpersky, DHS, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and others have been invited to testify.

To me, this affair raises several more questions. For instance:

    What does DHS or any other agency know about the Kaspersky Lab network? The company describes it as its main cloud system for threat analytics. Kaspersky’s cloud servers are “distributed across the globe.” Did any agency check to ensure that federal data never ended up on a cloud server in China or Russia? They would ask that of any other cloud services company.

    If DHS believes the worst about Kaspersky, how can it ensure that, once ostensibly removed, advanced persistent threats won’t be left behind to do future mischief?
    What is the plan for replacing whatever functionality Kaspersky Lab products provided, and how are agencies expected to pay for it?

    Will some sort of trade punch-counterpunch result from this incident? Russia ranks low on the list of U.S. trading partners. But it’s more than just vodka. The U.S. runs a $8.7 billion or so trade deficit with Russia, to which U.S. companies export around $5.8 billion worth of stuff, according to Census figures. Trade with Russia has dropped by about half in the last four years.

DHS took a highly visible action while providing little detail. We don’t know if something tangible happened or if the agency is just covering its keister. It should come clean, or at least cleaner, with what it knows. Many U.S. corporations that use Kaspersky Lab products would also like to know.

 

https://federalnewsradio.com/tom-temin-commentary/2017/09/feds-whack-kaspersky-now-what/

 

 

 

[DKT27]

Thread moved to Security and Privacy News.

 

Concerning all this. It's best for the common user to decide what is right for them.

 

Also, do not rely on just a single layer of security, use a multi-layered one from multiple vendors as much as possible to do so.

[knowledge-Spammer]

In a memorable episode of “The Sopranos,” Tony and two lieutenants murder a colleague they discovered has turned FBI informant. They shoot “Big Pussy” on his boat and shove his weighted body into the ocean off New Jersey. In the pre-whack interrogation, they discover he’d flipped more than a year earlier.  Thus, damage was done

i have seen this tv program Sopranos but what it have to do with Kaspersky ?

[steven36]

50 minutes ago, knowledge said:

In a memorable episode of “The Sopranos,” Tony and two lieutenants murder a colleague they discovered has turned FBI informant. They shoot “Big Pussy” on his boat and shove his weighted body into the ocean off New Jersey. In the pre-whack interrogation, they discover he’d flipped more than a year earlier.  Thus, damage was done

i have seen this tv program Sopranos but what it have to do with Kaspersky ?

That is what it reminded  the journalist of  when they removed kaspersky from the government is what he said.

 

This what  a guy said  that been out in the Field  and had contact with Kaspersky Employees in the USA  said about it

Quote

 

bossnas 1 day ago 

I went to the Boise Interface Tour today (basically an IT vendor showcase), and I felt really bad for the Kaspersky Reps. There is definitely an palpable apprehension in the air and lots questions that they couldn't really answer about the future of their US operations at least for awhile. As a security company, people need to be able to trust them. I would imagine it's going to be hard to rebuild the brand.

I would explain it as an unofficial US sanction on Russia's cyber industry.

 

 

 

[knowledge-Spammer]

8 hours ago, steven36 said:

That is what it reminded  the journalist of  when they removed kaspersky from the government is what he said.

 

This what  a guy said  that been out in the Field  and had contact with Kaspersky Employees in the USA  said about it

 

 

This what  a guy said  that been out in the Field  and had contact with Kaspersky Employees in the USA  said about it

Quote

 

bossnas 1 day ago 

I went to the Boise Interface Tour today (basically an IT vendor showcase), and I felt really bad for the Kaspersky Reps. There is definitely an palpable apprehension in the air and lots questions that they couldn't really answer about the future of their US operations at least for awhile. As a security company, people need to be able to trust them. I would imagine it's going to be hard to rebuild the brand.

I would explain it as an unofficial US sanction on Russia's cyber industry.

 

 

sure maybe  hard to rebuild the brand but y Kaspersky  have to rebuild the brand for peoples lies Kaspersky  have not did wrong to noone

 

but the Sopranos  comment was funny

 

[steven36]

12 minutes ago, knowledge said:

sure maybe  hard to rebuild the brand but y Kaspersky  have to rebuild the brand for peoples lies Kaspersky  have not did wrong to noone

They most likely will go to court latter on about it the Government have a right not too use stuff from Russia, there not allies with each other  there not at war but not friends . The government are not the one writing these stories that  ruining his businesses it's the media doing that. I told you  this  was going happen  if they kept this up and it did  . . Its just like the Russian Government  have the right too use what they want  the USA  dont have no say if they wanted  too use Linux  or some other software not from the USA.

[knowledge-Spammer]

8 hours ago, steven36 said:

They most likely will go to court latter on about it the Government have a right not too use stuff from Russia, there not allies with each other  there not at war but not friends . The government are not the one writing these stories that  ruining his businesses it's the media doing that. I told you  this  was going happen  if they kept this up and it did  . . 

if they think it will stop Kaspersky   from doing good  they are all wrong

Kaspersky    team are to smart but the games people want to play will end bad  if russians wanted to can hit usa av brands but y when its not needed

its a sad game to play with people and businesses

maybe some of them people need to watch the McAfee  video i posted

 

[steven36]

11 minutes ago, knowledge said:

if they think it will stop Kaspersky   from doing good  they are all wrong

Kaspersky    team are to smart but the games people want to play will end bad  if russians wanted to can hit usa av brands but y when its not needed

its a sad game to play with people and businesses

I hope them luck  but i doubt they will be doing it in the USA  anymore  it's not about  if they good  or bad  and the Government dont care about  the USA Antivirus future if they did they would never been using Kapersky too began with.  You dont know the USA very well  we lost Millions of  jobs  to China  and Mexico  all they care about is getting rich   ..how do you know they will even use  a USA brand they have many they can chose from in the EU as well? They have not said what they are going too use  or how they was even going pay to for it  .

[knowledge-Spammer]

7 hours ago, steven36 said:

I hope them luck  but i doubt they will be doing it in the USA  anymore  it's not about  if they good  or bad  and the Government dont care about  the USA Antivirus future if they did they would never been using Kapersky too began with.  You dont know the USA very well  we lost Millions of  jobs  to China  and Mexico  all they care about is getting rich   ..how do you know they will even use  a USA brand they have many they can chose from in the EU as well?

all they care about is getting rich

soon the usa dollar is no good  just be rich    in the usa lol people  never understand whats real going on usa dollar  is going down hill big times soon u all see