{"id":2670,"date":"2022-03-17T16:49:07","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T22:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/isec-601-f21\/?p=2670"},"modified":"2022-03-17T16:49:11","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T22:49:11","slug":"germanys-cyber-security-authority-warns-against-using-anti-virus-software-from-kaspersky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/isec-601-f21\/2022\/03\/17\/germanys-cyber-security-authority-warns-against-using-anti-virus-software-from-kaspersky\/","title":{"rendered":"Germany\u2019s Cyber Security Authority Warns Against Using Anti-Virus Software From Kaspersky"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On March 15, 2022, Germany\u2019s cyber security authority, the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), has warned against using anti-virus software from Russian headquartered company Kaspersky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0BSI\u00a0recommends\u00a0replacing\u00a0applications from the portfolio of anti-virus\u00a0software\u00a0from Kaspersky with alternative products.<\/p>https:\/\/www.bsi.bund.de\/DE\/Service-Navi\/Presse\/Pressemitteilungen\/Presse2022\/220315_Kaspersky-Warnung.html<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Who is Kaspersky?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kaspersky is a major\u00a0multinational\u00a0cybersecurity\u00a0and\u00a0anti-virus\u00a0provider; however, since it is based in Moscow, Russia, the BSI has expressed concerns that it may be utilized by the Kremlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Russian\u00a0IT\u00a0manufacturer can carry out offensive operations itself, be forced to attack target systems against his will, or be\u00a0spied on\u00a0as a victim of a\u00a0cyber\u00a0operation without his knowledge or misused as a tool for attacks against its own customers.<\/p>https:\/\/www.bsi.bund.de\/DE\/Service-Navi\/Presse\/Pressemitteilungen\/Presse2022\/220315_Kaspersky-Warnung.html<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Concern about the neutrality of Kaspersky has been expressed before. In fact, in 2017, former U.S. President Donald Trump banned the use of Kaspersky services within the U.S. government<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reactions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The controversy over Kaspersky has even prompted the German professional football club Eintracht Frankfurt to end a sponsorship deal with the company. The German football club’s CEO Axel Hellmann is quoted as saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have always made it clear that we are attaching the continuation of the partnership with Kaspersky to facts and attitude and not to nationalities. With the warning of the BSI, the facts and thus the confidence in the protection capability of Kaspersky’s products and services has changed significantly. We have informed the management of Kaspersky that we will terminate the sponsorship contract with immediate effect.<\/p>https:\/\/klub.eintracht.de\/news\/eintracht-beendet-partnerschaft-mit-kaspersky-140013<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Kaspersky’s Response<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eugene Kaspersky, CEO of Kaspersky, denies any allegations of connections with the Russian government and says the BSI’s statement is political rather than based on evidence and facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We\u2019re grateful to our German customers for their continued choice of @kaspersky<\/a> & will continue to protect them from threats no matter the origin.

We call on regulators to make choices on facts not politics.

EN – https:\/\/t.co\/INW3xbDlF6<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/JO7ZRwyGTe<\/a><\/p>— Eugene Kaspersky (@e_kaspersky) March 16, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sources: <\/p>\n\n\n\n