Russia Starts Microsoft Antivirus Investigation After Kaspersky Complaint

[Exterminator]

Microsoft’s problems in Russia continue, as the Federal Antimonopoly Service has decided to start an investigation against the Redmond-based software giant amid claims of unfair practices regarding antivirus software in Windows 10.

Russian-based security company Kaspersky has complained that Microsoft is abusing its dominant position by forcing users to stick with Windows Defender in Windows 10, while also implementing changes that impact the adoption of third-party software.

Founder Eugene Kaspersky explains that Microsoft has reduced the period of time the company offered to software developers for testing purposes from 2 months to 7 days, and this led to many security apps being flagged as incompatible and replaced with Windows Defender.

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) is now investigating these claims, explaining that Microsoft might violate Part 1, Article 10 of the Federal Law regulating protection of competition.

The law “prohibits actions (omissions) of an economic dominant with the dominant position that lead or can lead to preventing, restricting, eliminating competition and (or) infringing the interests of other persons (economic entities) in business activities or consumers at large.”

Equality for all companies in Russia
Russia says that it’ll look into accusations as it wants “equal conditions” for all companies doing business in the country.

“Since Microsoft itself develops antivirus software - Windows Defender that switches on automatically if third-party software fails to adapt to Windows 10 in due time, such actions lead to unreasonable advantages for Microsoft on the software market. Our task is to ensure equal conditions for all participants on this market,” Deputy Head of FAS Anatoly Golomolzin explained in a statement.

This isn’t Microsoft’s only problem in Russia, as the government has recently announced that it would ban LinkedIn, the service that Redmond purchased earlier this year, after it failed to move user data on local servers and comply with Russian laws.

Furthermore, Microsoft is at the center of Russia’s push off foreign software, with President Vladimir Putin himself seeing the software giant as a main threat to national security, as he believes that products such as Windows and Office could be used by other governments to spy on the country.

Microsoft hasn’t yet issued a statement on Kaspersky’s claim or on this investigation started by Russia, but we’ve already contacted the company and we’ll update the article when an answer is received.

Another article on this hot topic Kaspersky Accuses Microsoft of Playing Dirty with Antivirus Apps in Windows 10 - Updated

 

[Wave]

Instead of Eugene wasting his time with this fighting against Microsoft, doesn't he has a lot of work to get cracking down on? He has/had 7 days, he should be working on compatibility and testing, not sitting behind his computer making complaints to Microsoft that will most likely get him no where...

 

[jamescv7]

I think the move done by Microsoft is so premature.

Yes it may sound irregularities but will not lead to paralyze on third party AV's.

 

[Wave]

I think the move done by Microsoft is so premature.

Yes it may sound irregularities but will not lead to paralyze on third party AV's.

Kaspersky are over-exaggerating in my opinion, too focused on making money. They should think before they make these sorts of complaints towards Microsoft, and control the outcome.

Think about what could have happened if they had controlled the outcome:
1. They ignored what Microsoft was doing and carried on working with the teams to do something great.
2. They acknowledged what Microsoft was doing and weren't happy but instead of wasting time online making complaints they got to work and did something great.

Or they can not control the outcome and do something like this:
1. They didn't ignore what Microsoft was doing and became very angry inside, they couldn't control the anger and therefore wasted their precious time by making complaints. They will still be successful but due to wasting time they'll have more time-consuming work to do (finished later than it would have been) and they modify their company appearance to be a bit downgraded due to throwing their toys out the pram.

I know which option I would have chosen: controlled the outcome #1.

 

[Entreri]

"purposes from 2 months to 7 days"

Wow! That is way too abrupt of a change...I wonder why

 

[jamescv7]

@Wave: Yeah, honestly I acknowledge the efforts done by Kaspersky team for improvement of products, but seems they need to exert more effort instead.

Usually those cases will take very long time to have progress, definitely a waste of money and time.

 

[Wave]

@Wave: Yeah, honestly I acknowledge the efforts done by Kaspersky team for improvement of products, but seems they need to exert more effort instead.

Usually those cases will take very long time to have progress, definitely a waste of money and time.

I think they should try meditation, it could help them calm their emotions and give them time to think on what is really important and what work should be addressed for completion next. Since right now it seems they are just losing time on these pointless actions, maybe these complaints are due to helplessness or jealousy of the power Microsoft has compared to them.

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

The Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service has launched a probe into Microsoft after Eugene Kaspersky made a number of accusations about Windows 10.

Kaspersky claims that Microsoft is attempting to push independent security developers out.
Russian law enforcement is launching a probe against Microsoft for antitrust violations. The FAS, Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service are apparently investigating the global tech giant after Eugene Kaspersky made a number of accusations that Microsoft is attempting to push out independent security developers.

The founder of Kaspersky Lab recently wrote a blogpost accusing Microsoft of cutting out independent security companies, by privileging Microsoft security products within Windows 10.

While once holding a place as a top security provider, said Kaspersky, Microsoft has been “seizing niche markets: squeezing independent developers out of them, taking their place, and offering users their own products, which in many cases were in no way better.”

Kaspersky used as an example that when you upgrade to Windows 10, the operating system automatically deactivates ‘incompatible' security and replaces it with its own product, Windows Defender. Windows 10 also buries the licence expiry notification on other security products in the Windows Security Centre which, wrote Kaspersky, “hardly ever gets read”.

In essence, said Kaspersky, “Microsoft is gradually squeezing independent developers out of the Windows ecosystem if it has its own application for this or that purpose.”

It comes off the back of these accusations that Russia's FAS is looking into whether Microsoft abused its position by privileging its own software over third party developers. Anatoly Golomolzin, deputy head of the FAS, said that such a decision results in unfair advantages for the company.

A spokesperson for Kaspersky summarised the cyber-security giant's position in a statement to SCMagazineUK.com: “Microsoft has created a situation whereby competing security software manufacturers, including Kaspersky Lab, are unable to fully comply with their obligations towards users, which leads to users being less protected, limits users' choice in terms of security solution providers and creates financial losses for Microsoft's competitors.”

Kaspersky Lab has apparently decided, after a long period of direct negotiations with Microsoft, to report the company to legal authorities in a number of different countries as well as appeal the case to the European Commission.

Microsoft has still not received official notification from the FAS, but a spokesperson for the company told SC that despite Kaspersky's accusations “Microsoft Russia and Kaspersky Lab has a long history of cooperation in different areas. Microsoft is committed to work in full compliance with Russian law. The company hasn't received an official notification from FAS. As soon as we get it, we will review it carefully.”

 

[Wave]

Kaspersky claims that Microsoft is attempting to push independent security developers out.

Who knows, maybe they are. I understand that Eugene's business is Kaspersky, but Microsoft own Windows and should be entitled to put their own security first on the OS to the users if they want. I doubt Eugene would like someone else telling him how to run his own business (well maybe he already has this depending on the shares, I do not know).

Anyway, Kaspersky are over-exaggerating and getting scared over nothing. Plenty of people will still disable WD and install Kaspersky instead, and if not? The dev team have enough skills to pack up and join the Windows Defender team (if they would be accepted that is, MS could already re-make Kaspersky if they wanted).

 

[frogboy]

I can only imagine the outcry if Microsoft shipped without any security software installed, i think Kaspersky is crying over spilt milk.

 

[tim one]

Well I can understand the valid reasons that may justify the various actions, but in my opinion all this does not bring benefits to anyone.

 

[conceptualclarity]

I think the scenario of Windows Defender driving the premium or even the free antiviruses out of business is rather far-fetched. But I don't doubt that Microsoft is playing dirty.

Kaspersky Accuses Microsoft Of Playing Dirty With Antivirus Apps

also launching constant notifications to suggest the use of native software in this field, which is Windows Defender and this, indeed, is extensible web browsers, since Microsoft is also launching constant alerts informing the user that the third-party software is ‘eating your battery’, for example in the case Notebook-computers.

 

[jamescv7]

In short, third party developers should be responsible for quick, efficient and reliable once the OS is open for compatibility testing.

Those evidences are so premature in the sense where users may choose to ignore and follow other steps instead for issue free on installing an AV.