Exclusive-U.S. warned firms about Russia's Kaspersky software day after invasion -sources

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

(Reuters) -The U.S. government began privately warning some American companies the day after Russia invaded Ukraine that Moscow could manipulate software designed by Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky to cause harm, according to a senior U.S. official and two people familiar with the matter.

The classified briefings are part of Washington's broader strategy to prepare providers of critical infrastructure such as water, telecoms and energy for potential Russian intrusions.

President Joe Biden said last week that sanctions imposed on Russia for its Feb. 24 attack on Ukraine could result in a backlash, including cyber disruptions, but the White House did not offer specifics.

"The risk calculation has changed with the Ukraine conflict," said the senior U.S. official about Kaspersky's software. "It has increased."

Kaspersky, one of the cybersecurity industry's most popular anti-virus software makers, is headquartered in Moscow and was founded by Eugene Kaspersky, who U.S. officials describe as a former Russian intelligence officer.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/exclusive-us-warned-firms-about-russias-kaspersky-software-day-after-invasion-sources/ar-AAVHQ69

[2naSalit]

1. Made the mistake...

Two laptops ago. That software trashed my first laptop completely. I became extremely cautious after that.

[LuvLoogie]

2. I use Bitdefender

Microsoft's Defender is pretty good, too.

[Liberal In Texas]

9. We're using Defender. It's good.

"If you try to install Kaspersky’s free tools, Windows Defender may flag Kaspersky as dangerous. We encountered the issue in our testing, though it wasn’t clear why the issues occurred."

- https://www.pcworld.com/article/626854/kaspersky-blacklisted-as-a-risk-to-u-s-national-security.html

[LuvLoogie]

10. Yeah. That and regular back ups.

I like Defender's offline scan option, too. I'll also run free Malwarebytes manually on some machines I support. Usually as a secondary, deep, offline scan. Ill run it online to get the updates, then unplug the internet and run the scan. But I'll make sure that Defender is live as default.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

3. Heard warnings about this years ago.

Last edited Fri Apr 1, 2022, 05:15 AM - Edit history (1)

Uninstalled Kaspersky, I but suspect any bad seeds had already been planted.

Fortunately, never installed on any of my current devices.

However, I was one of many who received a phishing text with my own cell number spoofed as the sender. A link was included, the preview of which showed Russian language.

https://boringbuzz.com/my-own-phone-number-is-now-spam-texting-me/

My husband & I discovered just a week or so ago that we are victims of ID theft. I'm not so sure the two incidents aren't related.

[FakeNoose]

6. That's probably not Kaspersky doing the phishing texts

All the robo-dialers are doing that now, I hate to tell you. They can even spoof the number they're calling from. They can make it look like you're calling yourself. They can make it look like they're calling from your area, even though it's really coming from Asia (or whatever.)

Just make sure you have caller ID and most of us do have that now. Always check the ID before you answer, and never answer any calls that have suspicious or missing ID.

[Tetrachloride]

4. There are 2 terms we don't hear a lot about: reverse black box engineering and decompiling.

1. Basically, compare the before and after of using Kapersky

2. Decompile. Figure out the code. First , binary to assembler language. Second, assembler to something more abstract

This last part is part art, part engineering.

[Tetrachloride]

5. Computers isolated from internet is a safer technique

that I use these past 18 months.

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. UGH

I have it on my laptop with a three-year subscription. Plan to uninstall and then cancel, but I guess they have bigger fish to fry than little ole me. I hope….

[lagomorph777]

12. Uninstall NOW.

Then run a reputable virus scanner.

[Lefta Dissenter]

13. Thanks for the kick in the behind

I downloaded BitDefender, removed Kaspersky, and scanned my computer yesterday. Makes me mad that I had recently paid for TWO years of Kaspersky, however. That’s lost money. ☹️

[Wicked Blue]

8. I use Avast

Someone on DU recommended it some time ago. Can't complain.

[lagomorph777]

11. They've been warning about it for quite a while now.

I assume anybody still using it is a Republican idiot.

[Lefta Dissenter]

14. Or just doesn't read about computer issues?

Kinda harsh.

[lagomorph777]

16. Sorry - just haven't trusted any SW from Russia, ever.

I figured it was common knowledge.

[Samrob]

15. In the meantime, I know two programming whizzes, young gifted and black who can only find

food service jobs or delivery jobs with big firms or the Feds businesses. Tried for Google, IBM and Amazon.