Serious Discussion Is the US Ban on Kaspersky Still Justified in 2025—or Pure Paranoia?

[Parkinsond]

*Magic Lantern was a keylogger software developed by the FBI. There were credible reports and significant public concern around 2001 that major antivirus vendors, including Symantec (maker of Norton AntiVirus), were "whitelisting" or intentionally configuring their products not to detect Magic Lantern.

Pick your poison

 

[ForgottenSeer 123960]

Pick your poison

Perhaps the real 'poison' is the lack of public awareness and demand for better. What steps can be taken to prevent such scenarios in the future?

 

[Parkinsond]

Perhaps the real 'poison' is the lack of public awareness and demand for better. What steps can be taken to prevent such scenarios in the future?

It is too hot to take any steps

 

[Marko :)]

Well the ban came shortly after Kaspersky's employees and Eugene Kaspersky phones were hacked. The hack was expensive and probably government-sponsored.

Kaspersky says attackers hacked staff iPhones with unknown malware | TechCrunch

The Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky said that hackers working for a government targeted several dozen employees’ iPhones with unknown malware. On

techcrunch.com

From the article:

• In a separate statement, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) accused U.S. intelligence — mentioning NSA specifically — of hacking “thousands” of Apple phones with the goal of spying on Russian diplomats, according to an online translation. The FSB also accused Apple of cooperating with American intelligence. The FSB did not provide evidence for its claims.

Not sure what the US government has discovered. They are not gonna tell us.

Oh, so let me get this straight.

1. Kaspersky finds out they were hacked
2. Kaspersky and FSB say Americans were behind the hack
3. Kaspersky and FSB refuse to provide any evidence for their claim

Yep! Totally not suspicious. If you were robbed and went to the police to report the crime, I bet you'd also refuse to give any details of the robbery, right?

I mean, it wouldn't make sense from US side to say "we got this on Russians" because that would mean they admit they did the hack. But I'd at least expect of the victim to speak here and provide a proof something happened.

I don't know if any of you here follow(ed) war in Ukraine, but in short, every time Russians accused someone of something, or bragged about something, they never provided the evidence for their claim. Never.

 

[Trident]

Oh, so let me get this straight.

1. Kaspersky finds out they were hacked
2. Kaspersky and FSB say Americans were behind the hack
3. Kaspersky and FSB refuse to provide any evidence for their claim

Yep! Totally not suspicious. If you were robbed and went to the police to report the crime, I bet you'd also refuse to give any details of the robbery, right?

I don't know if any of you here follow(ed) war in Ukraine, but in short, every time Russians accused someone of something, or bragged about something, they never provide the evidence for their claim. Never.

This is not what I meant, what I meant is that the ban is probably justified by some information that was discovered as part of the hack. As to who’s begind the hack, judging by the level of sophistication, it’s been government-led for sure.

For the reason of staying away from political debates and so on, I usually avoid any discussions related to Kaspersky. Yes, effective software without a doubt. But shrouded in mystery and drama. There are others that are effective too.

 

[Marko :)]

This is not what I meant, what I meant is that the ban is probably justified by some information that was discovered as part of the hack. As to who’s begind the hack, judging by the level of sophistication, it’s been government-led for sure.

For the reason of staying away from political debates and so on, I usually avoid any discussions related to Kaspersky. Yes, effective software without a doubt. But shrouded in mystery and drama. There are others that are effective too.

No, no, no. You misunderstood. My reply wasn't an answer your post. I quoted it to show other members of the forum that sometimes thing aren't so black/white as they seem. There are always some important details that you just have to pay attention and then make a logical conclusion.

It doesn't make sense that victim of a crime says it was a victim, but refuses to provide any proof that would indicate they were in fact the victim. Because we could all accuse everyone of anything really. It's just these accusations without proof wouldn't hold up in court really.

 

[Jonny Quest]

I'm still not sure why this thread was allowed in the first place, except that it was created by the Bot?

 

[Trident]

I'm still not sure why this thread was allowed in the first place, except that it was created by the Bot?

It was created by @Bot under the request and supervision of @Jack . The bot is not just gonna create a thread randomly. It’s smart but not that much. Jack wants to see the forum buzzing

 

[Parkinsond]

Bad choice of the thread subject by the bot.
I will raise conflicts, with no foreseeable gain regarding cybersecurity.
Need oldschool demanding "kill the bot"

 

[Trident]

Bad choice of the thread subject by the bot.
I will raise conflicts, with no foreseeable gain regarding cybersecurity.
Need oldschool demanding "kill the bot"

Cybersecurity is not an entirely different planet and dimension that can be isolated completely. Inevitability cybersecurity crosses paths with many other subjects in life, including political debates. Threats are not always for profit, there are threats that stem from political and governmental motivations.

 

[Parkinsond]

Cybersecurity is not an entirely different planet and dimension that can be isolated completely. Inevitability cybersecurity crosses paths with many other subjects in life, including political debates. Threats are not always for profit, there are threats that stem from political and governmental motivations.

Waiting to find out the Winner

 

[Trident]

Waiting to find out the Winner

Check the poll

 

[Jonny Quest]

It was created by @Bot under the request and supervision of @Jack . The bot is not just gonna create a thread randomly. It’s smart but not that much. Jack wants to see the forum buzzing

Good point. That's what I was thinking last week when Bot was allowed, as you mentioned, under the supervision of Jack to create multiple threads to help keep this forum more active. Edit: and in testing the new and improved AI update.

I do regularly check to see the number of members online and guests, and at times, the numbers have been down a bit, I'm just not sure if it's going to win more members over, turn them off, or of them going the ignore route?

 

[Marko :)]

I'm just wondering why three last options in poll exist. You don't need to live in the US to have opinion on this topic. The options should include "yes", "no" and "I don't know"; that's it.

 

[Sorrento]

My issue is I don't trust The USA either or much any country to do the right thing, that includes my own

 

[Parkinsond]

My issue is I don't trust The USA either or much any country to do the right thing, that includes my own

In God we trust

 

[Sorrento]

However no one has been called Hitler yet so so far so good?

Godwin's law​

 

[Trident]

I am not sure what direction this discussion is headed to…

 

[Parkinsond]

However no one has been called Hitler yet so so far so good?

Godwin's law​

Kill the bots

MSN

 

[Sorrento]

Silversurfer is going to be very cross when he reads this thread & I don't want another snail mail from him with threat of banishment for 100 years! So I'm going to clean the house!