is Kaspersky safe to use?

[mvd]

I know that getting KIS would be easier since I can get everything in one for my MacBook. But with the way Russia is now, I am afraid to use it. Any opinions from the computer experts here? Currently I have Avira Pro AV and trying Little Snitch firewall. Little Snitch is a bit chatty though.

[still_one]

1. It has a good reputation

[mvd]

2. I know, but I just can't get those Russian ties out of my mind

A few opinions here from experts could sway me, though.

[tirebiter]

3. It's my fave

It covers what Defender and Malwarebytes combined do for Windows. Currently? Don't have any earth shattering rumors to the contrary. Maybe someone else does

[gordianot]

4. Not an expert I assume nothing is safe to use.

Not being a user who does anything on line of a critical nature and being relatively free of paranoia, I am willing to take my chances. That being said I equate the chances of using a Russian product with crossing the interstate on foot, just something I choose not do. Buy American when you can, watch for the union label.

[mvd]

7. I don't do anything considered risky

But obviously I go to Democratic and progressive message boards. That makes me worry more about Russian spying.

[Loki Liesmith]

5. Kaspersky himself is ex-KGB

And maintains close links to Russian intelligence.
Nobody I know that works in intel circles uses it on general principle.

[hlthe2b]

6. I use it along with malwarebytes... Most of my concerns were assuaged by past NRP and Bloomberg

reporting on the issue...(both use it)

I've also searched a number of IT techie sites where the question has been asked... It seemed the majority response is that yes, the tech world still trusts Kaspersky.

From my vantage point, it has caught things my previous internet security packages (Norton, AVG, PCTools, Symanec did not)


I guess there is debate still to be had, but my tech colleagues seem to say it is fine and quite a few use it themselves.

[mvd]

8. Thanks to everyone for the responses

I guess it does come down in the end to my personal trust, but a discussion here can definitely help me decide.

[Warpy]

9. I know that they have picked up nastyware sooner than any other antivirus

and they've sent out alerts worldwide, so they've got good techs. I also know that Putin had a problem with their former CEO.

If I were a major US corporation, I don't think I'd use them. For small fish who aren't running for office or controlling vast fortunes, they're a good outfit.

I also buy specialty fiber for spinning from a producer in Russia. The mailman looks at me funny but the fiber isn't poisoned and nobody else duplicates her silk/alpaca blends or dyeing skills.

[democratisphere]

10. If Russian hackers, viruses and malware are everywhere, I'd rather

be getting my cyber security from their fellow "good guy" countrymen.

[perry77]

11. I think it is safe to use Kaspersky

I am now using this antivirus program and don't consider it is not safe at all. If you really worry, just consider another one. I think Bitdefender is also a good choice.

[mvd]

12. I thought I heard Kaspersky mentioned in the intelligence hearing?

I couldn't hear what they said, though. Anyone catch that?

[douglas9]

13. US government is reviewing whether to use Kaspersky software, because Russia

Mention the US and Russia in the same sentence and the mind naturally wanders to three things. Firstly, the alleged links between the Trump administration and Russia, secondly whether or not the FBI investigation of these alleged links led to the dismissal of Comey, and thirdly whether or not Russia interfered with the US election.

But now the US government is reviewing whether or not to continue to use Russian-made security software from Kasperksy. Defense Intelligence Agency director Vincent Stewart says "we are tracking Kaspersky and their software." He does not elaborate or give reasons, but there have been -- as yet unsubstantiated -- claims that Russia has been using Kaspersky software to spy on America. The director of the NSA is "personally involved" in monitoring the company.


Kaspersky, of course, denies the allegations. In a statement the company says: "As a private company, Kaspersky Lab has no ties to any government, and the company has never helped, nor will help, any government in the world with its cyber espionage efforts."

https://betanews.com/2017/05/12/us-reviews-kaspersky-security-software/

[Denzil_DC]

14. Kaspersky Anti-Virus has long had PR problems

because of the association with Russia.

For that reason, that part of the company's gone to great lengths to try to reassure people it's keeping its nose clean - an anti-malware company that lost credibility would commit commercial suicide.

My small business uses Kaspersky AV, and has done for a few years. So far, it's caught potential infections that other programs would have missed. We haven't had a significant problem since we started using it (touch wood), which wasn't the case with both paid and freeware programs we used before.

I'll be keeping an eye on it and developments, and I see no reason to look elsewhere for protection at the moment, but then I don't have any particular secrets to hide.

[mvd]

15. I decided to use BitDefender

Has a great reputation like Kaspersky, and I won't be thinking about my security program like I would if I was using Kaspersky. The fears may be unfounded, but still wouldn't have peace of mind.

[douglas9]

16. Bill Would Bar Pentagon From Business With Russian Cyber Firm Kaspersky (6.28.2017)

A provision in a Senate spending bill that is likely to become law would bar the Defense Department from doing business with Kaspersky Lab, the Russian cyber-security company whose employees were interviewed at their homes this week by FBI agents.

The Congressional action comes amid mounting concerns about the Moscow-based company, which sells anti-virus software across the world to consumers, businesses and government agencies, including some elements of the U.S. government.

In recent months, U.S. intelligence officials have expressed concerns that the company is a security risk, without specifying the basis of those concerns.

Last month, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., asked the chiefs of the NSA, Central Intelligence Agency, FBI and three other intelligence agencies during a hearing whether they would be comfortable using Kaspersky products. Each said no.

"The ties between Kaspersky Lab and the Kremlin are very alarming," said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who authored the provision in the defense spending bill. "This has led to a consensus in Congress and among administration officials that Kaspersky Lab cannot be trusted to protect critical infrastructure, particularly computer systems vital to our nation’s security."

FBI agents on Tuesday paid visits to at least a dozen employees of Kaspersky, asking questions about the company’s operations as part of a counter-intelligence inquiry, multiple sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.

In a classic FBI investigative tactic, agents visited the homes of the employees at the end of the work day at multiple locations on both the east and west coasts, the sources said.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fbi-interviews-employees-russia-linked-cyber-security-firm-kasperky-lab-n777571

[douglas9]

18. Investigations Local governments keep using this software but it might be a back door for Russia

Local and state government agencies from Oregon to Connecticut say they are using a Russian brand of security software despite the federal government’s instructions to its own agencies not to buy the software over concerns about cyberespionage, records and interviews show.

The federal agency in charge of purchasing, the General Services Administration, this month removed Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab from its list of approved vendors. In doing so, the agency’s statement suggested a vulnerability exists in Kaspersky that could give the Russian government backdoor access to the systems it protects, though they offered no explanation or evidence of it. Kaspersky has strongly denied coordinating with the Russian government and has offered to cooperate with federal investigators.

The GSA’s move on July 11 has left state and local governments to speculate about the risks of sticking with the company or abandoning taxpayer-funded contracts, sometimes at great cost. The lack of information from the GSA underscores a disconnect between local officials and the federal government about cybersecurity.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/local-governments-keep-using-this-software--but-it-might-be-a-back-door-for-russia/2017/07/23/39692918-6c99-11e7-8961-ec5f3e1e2a5c_story.html

[douglas9]

19. Report: FBI Asks Private Sector Companies To Stop Using Kaspersky Products

Obviously, it’s best practice to use antivirus and malware protection on anything you have that can connect to a network — and that goes double for businesses. But a new report says that the FBI is now asking several companies in the private sector to phase out use of products from Kaspersky Labs over concerns about the founder’s Russian background and ties.
The Feds already stopped

The company, as we explained in July, has been offering its generally well-regarded antivirus and security products in the U.S. for nearly 20 years. But “Russian interference” is one of the big buzzwords of 2017, and the company’s founder and products have recently come under scrutiny as a result.

Since 2015, several reports have surfaced that founder Eugene Kaspersky has ties to Russian military intelligence. Any potential vulnerabilities stemming from those ties were by and large downplayed or ignored… until this year.

The Trump administration removed Kaspersky Lab from the list of approved vendors for government contracts back in July. Federal agencies, as well as state and local government agencies, considered if or how to phase out their own usage.

https://consumerist.com/2017/08/21/report-fbi-asks-private-sector-companies-to-stop-using-kaspersky-products/

[mvd]

20. Thanks for the updates

[douglas9]

22. Kaspersky software banned from US government systems over concerns about Russia

The Department of Homeland Security has told US government agencies to remove Kaspersky software from their systems. The directive was issued because of concerns about influence exerted over the company by the Russian government.

Government agencies have been given three months to identify and start to remove Kaspersky's security products. Kaspersky has constantly denied connections to the Russian government, but the US is simply not willing to take the risk.

The Trump administration has taken what is being described as a "risk-based decision" in banning Kaspersky software. Within 30 days agencies must identify Kaspersky software, within 60 they must have plans in place to remove the software, and within 90 days the removal process must be underway, according to the directive.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement saying:

The Department is concerned about the ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence and other government agencies, and requirements under Russian law that allow Russian intelligence agencies to request or compel assistance from Kaspersky and to intercept communications transiting Russian networks.

Speaking to Reuters, White House cyber security coordinator Rob Joyce said: "As we evaluated the technology, we decided it was a risk we couldn't accept."

Kaspersky has yet to respond to the news, but as the company has constantly pleaded innocence, this latest activity is unlikely to pass without comment.

n/t


https://betanews.com/2017/09/13/kaspersky-software-ban/

[ManiacJoe]

23. The whole issue seems more about politics than technology.

[Denzil_DC]

24. New Development:

Link to tweet

Eugene Kaspersky ✔ @e_kaspersky

I have accepted invitation to testify before US House of Representatives & address allegations about KL. Hope to get expedited visa.

[Loki Liesmith]

26. If you are a govt contractor, no.

[SonofDonald]

27. One word, Russian.

No flippin way I'd have it on my computer, can you say; Trojan Horse?.

Like sticking your finger in a light socket, you've been told not to do it.

But you do, and find out why you've been told not to, maybe you should have listened eh?.

[DonaldsRump]

28. I uninstalled KIS off three PCs

My wife's Mac stubbornly refuses to allow full removal of KIS and my daughter's PC still has annoying remnants even after the full uninstall.

I am fairly proficient when it comes to stuff like this, but for whatever reason, I cannot remove all traces of KIS (and I get down to editing registers etc).

I won't be renewing KIS.

[douglas9]

30. Ex-NSA Hackers Are Not Surprised by Bombshell Kaspersky Report

Russian hackers managed to steal sensitive files from the home computer of an NSA contractor who used Kaspersky Lab's antivirus, according to the The Wall Street Journal. The revelation sheds light on the secretive reasons behind the US government ban of Kaspersky Lab products, and former NSA hackers I spoke to said they weren't surprised by the story, saying that it could explain rumors of a leaker at the NSA that have swirled for a year.

On Thursday, the Journal reported that in 2015 Russian hackers identified sensitive NSA files on the home computer of an NSA contractor thanks to their use of Kaspersky Lab antivirus, which apparently detected samples of NSA files on the contractor's computer. According to the report, the hackers detected that the contractor had files it deemed valuable because the contractor used the Kaspersky antivirus software on their computer. The Journal didn't provide details on exactly how the hackers retrieved those files, whether Kaspersky was aware its software was being used this way, or if it alerted the Russian government to these findings.

The breach wasn't identified until 2016, according to the report. If true, this is the third major breach of sensitive information from the NSA after contractors Edward Snowden and Harold Martin took files outside of the spy agency's buildings.

Eugene Kaspersky, the founder of the eponymous company, dismissed the new report.

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/kz755a/ex-nsa-hackers-are-not-surprised-by-bombshell-kaspersky-report