Computer Hope

Other => Computer News => Topic started by: Geek-9pm on July 30, 2017, 07:55:40 PM

Title: Who is Eugene Kaspersky? Does it matter?
Post by: Geek-9pm on July 30, 2017, 07:55:40 PM
You will hear the name Kaspersky when the subject of anti-virus software is the topic. You know that. By now the connections between Russia and the company is getting attention. 
Eugene Kaspersky s a Russian cybersecurity expert and the CEO of Kaspersky Lab, an IT security company with 4,000 employees. He cofounded Kaspersky Lab in 1997 and helped identify instances of government-sponsored cyberwarfare as the head of research. He has been an advocate for an international treaty prohibiting cyberwarfare.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Eugene_Kaspersky_-_Kaspersky_Lab.jpg/440px-Eugene_Kaspersky_-_Kaspersky_Lab.jpg)
 Image is from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Kaspersky

Earlier this year somebody did a story about a possible link with the company to allegations that the Russian government is trying to use the Internet to do bad things. No proof givem.  :o
Now it is a topic for the mass-media.

Now here is how this has become news. The congress of the USA has a bill that almost names this company in a proposed software ban.  It is just a bill, at this point. But it is in the news. Look at this link:
http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2017/06/senate-defense-bill-bans-russian-anti-virus-software-splits-cio-duties/139119/
headline:
Senate Defense Bill Bans Russian Anti-virus Software, Splits CIO Duties
Quote
The provision barring Defense agencies from using Kaspersky anti-virus software is also absent from the House version of the bill. That provision cites “reports that the Moscow-based company might be vulnerable to Russian government influence.”

Numerous outlets have reported on anxiety within the government intelligence and cybersecurity communities about the Moscow-based anti-virus firm Kaspersky Lab, but the U.S. government has yet to make any firm allegations against the company.
The above was written by By Joseph Marks Senior Correspondent, www.nextgov.com

Any comments?

EDIT: You might want to see the article FORBES  Did.
https://www.forbes.com/profile/eugene-kaspersky/
Title: Re: Who is Eugene Kaspersky? Does it matter?
Post by: BC_Programmer on July 30, 2017, 09:19:25 PM
My understanding is that a possible link is the FSB Certifications issued by the Russian government, to Kaspersky do not bear the stamps of just any company seeking to operate in Russia; starting in 2007, they also include a Military Intelligence Unit Number, suggesting a possible connection to ongoing FSB operations.

What that connection is and what, if any, active role Kaspersky (The company) has is another question. It may be that the FSB has to workaround the Kaspersky Security software and that is why there is an associated Unit Number.