Serious Discussion US to ban its citizens from using Kaspersky?

[cartaphilus]

fwiw I tried to download KVRT last night from my bunker in the hot southwest US, and DL balked 2 different times, so I gave up; meanwhile, NPE finds no threats...

SIR STAY WHERE YOU ARE, GET SOME LUBE AND PREPARE TO BE BOARDED! /

 

[cartaphilus]

Here is my take on this:

I am usually against any company ban if it's doing a good job and not scamming their customers. I was against Huawei ban because none of the investigations showed that China used Huawei technology for spying. And while it's true China isn't exactly the most friendly country to countries around the world, they usually are just looking for their own benefit. And while it's true that they have terrible record regarding privacy in general, I really do think they haven't used it for spying on users in the entire world. The sole purpose of Trump's Huawei ban was to prevent China from winning in 5G race. But I am in favor of Kaspersky ban and here's why.

First and foremost, Kaspersky is a business of great importance to Russian government. They are, what we would call here produljena ruka (lit. extended arm) of Russian government and intelligence services as it was confirmed multiple times. If I remember correctly, they admitted having ties to the Russian military which is currently committing crimes in Ukraine. Just for that reason, I'd refuse to use any of their products. By paying for their product, you're are literally financing their terrorist activity and genocide. This is also why I refuse to use any Chinese made software. Trust me, before I start using any product, I always investigate company behind it. If I see Chinese company, I just skip it and look for an alternative.

Many of you are saying "I'll keep using Kaspersky because it's the best, and has best protection". This might be true, but do you know why? Because Russian hackers actually made the modern malware. So if they made it, of course Russian antivirus will have the best knowledge of how to block it. Seriously, have you ever wondered why many versions of ransomware refuse to do any damage if it finds itself on a PC with set Russian language and/or keyboard layout? It's because these are produced for international market, not for local one. Russia and China are among the top countries known for their cybercrimes. Take that into consideration as well.

And lastly, Kaspersky is a company contributing to Russian government's budget which spends a lot of money on their atrocities in Ukraine. By purchasing their product, part of your money goes directly to financing the war. As long as we do business with Russian companies and Russia will be able to afford the war, the horrific pictures and videos from Ukraine will keep coming on daily basis. The war can stop immediately if every country in the world just stopped doing business with Russia and their companies. Kaspersky is just the start. I mean, when Russia invaded Ukraine, they never mentioned how they are against the war. They literally just said how they are monitoring the situation in Ukraine. And then for contrast, just look at the AdGuard, which used to be Russian company. They immediately voiced their disagreement and even relocated their company to Cyprus. Despite their employees being from the each side of the front line. If I remember correctly, they also offered their employees relocation as well. They are an example how the company should behave.

Why I'm saying this? My country was in the same situation in the 90s as Ukraine right now, although with less powerful enemy. And when the war started, we didn't even have an army, let alone weapons to defend. Heck, UN even put embargo on us so countries were forbidden from selling us weapons. To make the situation worse, we literally had the enemy on the inside because all of the military complexes here were under JNA. This is also why the war in Ukraine shocked us more then any other country in Europe, because of how similar it is. Siege of Mariupol reopened the memories of Vukovar and Sarajevo. For that reason, I just can't use any product made in Russia and I'll support every single sanction or ban put on Russia. Because the evil must be stopped and nothing could change my stance on this topic.

Hear hear brother. People who praise Russia or think of Russia as a no big deal have never been under Russian rule.

 

[mlnevese]

I always wondered why Adguard doesn't get as much suspicion as Kaspersky. I've seen the occasional post say they won't use it but it's quite rare.

 

[cofer123]

The code can be clean as a whistle but if it uploads sensitive files to it's database and then the people behind the curtain use those files to inform their handlers then that's a different story. yes the same can be said about any other antivirus company. However, US is not in sensitive data competition with the other AV companies;

Sure, the US is completely harmless and would never engage in actions it accuses others of doing: Linksys Velop routers send wifi password in plaintext to server in U.S.

 

[cartaphilus]

Sure, the US is completely harmless and would never engage in actions it accuses others of doing: Linksys Velop routers send wifi password in plaintext to server in U.S.

I never said that. I never said that US is innocent and would never do that. I just live in the US I don't live in Russia or China thus whatever US has on me they have on me but I don't want Russia or China to have stuff about me that I don't want them to have.

China and Russia block and forbid US products and software every single day so why not the US do the same? Equal treatment right?

 

[cartaphilus]

I always wondered why Adguard doesn't get as much suspicion as Kaspersky. I've seen the occasional post say they won't use it but it's quite rare.

Honestly you bring up a very good point. I personally have a gazillion lifetime lics of adguard and I love the product. That being said; there is nothing preventing adguard from suddenly being updated and sending all of my female vs horse educational videos to Kremlin; since well they do decrypt ssl in order to block the ads. However I guess their saving grace is the sheer fact that they don't use a datalake like KSN but rather perform on the fly filtering.

Then again while we are at it any other software in my PC can be updated to turn malicious and try to invade my privacy....looking at you MS ClIppy! Don't you think I forgot about you! .

In the end, it looks like KAV has been spanked by the west wether it's right or not? That's up to the history to decide.

 

[TairikuOkami]

I always wondered why Adguard doesn't get as much suspicion as Kaspersky. I've seen the occasional post say they won't use it but it's quite rare.

They make sure to hide their origin, still according to their own statement some devs are from Ukraine, so they are tolerated.

Official response from AdGuard to SetApp allegations.

AdGuard doesn't send any requests to RU servers and works in compliance with GDPR. However, we are ready to reimburse all affected users.

adguard.com

Sadly it is always little people who suffer, when big ones are fighting. Thanks to social media even more than before. No mistakes are forgiven.

 

[rashmi]

Oh, my sadness, my American friends! No longer can you experience the thrill of Kaspersky-ing, condemned to the dullness of run-of-the-mill antivirus!

 

[cartaphilus]

Oh, my sadness, my American friends! No longer can you experience the thrill of Kaspersky-ing, condemned to the dullness of run-of-the-mill antivirus!

I don't know about you all but I am preparing my room to perform a Seppuku who will be my kaishakunin?

 

[rashmi]

I don't know about you all but I am preparing my room to perform a Seppuku who will be my kaishakunin?

I understand your intense longing for Kaspersky in America, but let's not resort to desperate measures like seppuku. We'll find a way to make it happen, I promise!

 

[Chuck57]

I guess I move to Comodo Firewall.

As I said in an earlier post, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop and those drone oxygen thieves in DC try to ban WPS Office, although I don't really need regular updates of that software.

 

[franz]

The authorities monitor their citizens and other countries' citizens. What Russia does, all large nations (and small ones) do also. If it were made public what is really happening, many people would disappear, and they would not be as lucky as Snowden.

 

[tofargone]

Over the last 8 years I have grown to be very cautious about what I believe.

One test I like to apply to everything the news or Gov releases is how much emotion seems to be driving the topic, and Ukraine had a lot of emotion, from people who are aware of wars all over the world for the last 100 yrs.

Never have I seen such emotional distress over a war before. It would be different if they did this about every war, but they don't.

Then there is the other side of the coin. What is Putin's motive.

Well there are a couple things to consider. This was around the time of Covid, biolabs in China, and also in Ukraine, plus talk of NATO moving into Russia's backyard. To me this seemed like there was a lot more going on then we were being told.

But to ban Kaspersky. That seems even more childish than all then other stuff.

 

[TairikuOkami]

The authorities monitor their citizens and other countries' citizens. What Russia does, all large nations (and small ones) do also.

Indeed, I live in a tiny country (5 mil) and WikiLeaks proved that my government (+AV) bought a monitoring software from NSA.
Everyone is watching everyone and since it is impossible to stop, I rather be monitored by friendlies or enemies, pick your poison.

 

[cartaphilus]

The authorities monitor their citizens and other countries' citizens. What Russia does, all large nations (and small ones) do also. If it were made public what is really happening, many people would disappear, and they would not be as lucky as Snowden.

Nothing more than combining two well known idioms with sufficient amounts of funds :

"Trust but verify" + "Knowledge is power"

Everyone and anyone would do this if they had the means. Wouldn't you want to know if your neighbors are people you want to interact or stay away from? Who to trust whose house your kid is allowed to sleep over at etc etc etc. If we do this on a micro scale then why not on macro? Government arises from people so I don't understand why people get surprised when things they do themselves is applied to them?