Kaspersky Lab announced today through a press release the launch of the Global Transparency Initiative. The announcement and the company's move from Russia were probably expected after recent developments.
We should note that through iGuru.gr we have dealt extensively with the topic, but this particular press release tempts us..:
The statement says that the “launch of the Global Transparency Initiative is part of the ongoing commitment to protect the company's customers from digital threats, regardless of their origin or purpose”
Heavy sweet and not…
Before I start referring to the “subtle” feelings of the company towards the consumer public, we must admit that Kaspersky Lab's move opens one of Aeolus's exercises for companies that choose to use proprietary software and operating systems.
The term Global Transparency Initiative will involve many others and according to the company:
“Kaspersky Lab will involve the broader information security community and other interested parties in the validation and verification of the reliability of its products, internal processes and business activities, as well as the introduction of additional accountability mechanisms, with which the company can demonstrate that it addresses any security problem promptly and effectively.”
What does the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) say
According to the official statement of the DHS regarding the issuance of the binding operational directive 17-01, the Department has the immediate federal executive services that will determine the use of Kaspersky software on Federal devices and will remove it within 90 days.
Why?
The Ministry is concerned about the ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence services as well as other government agencies. The Ministry is said to be concerned because all these Russian services can, using Russian law, request or force assistance from Kaspersky and start monitoring communications that pass through Russian networks.
The statement also says that the DHS is concerned that the Russian government could exploit Kaspersky's products on U.S. federal computers, with or without Kaspersky's cooperation. This statement does not provide further information supporting the Ministry's claims.
The move by Kaspersky Lab
By reading the above you can understand, even if only a little, the position of the Russian company. The ban by the American government for reasons that may be justified, may or may not, could cause an ongoing ban from companies and individuals on a global scale.
On the other hand, in addition to Kaspersky's reputation, there is also a lot of money at stake: $644 million at the time of the publication of an article in Foreign Policy. Although the company seems to have little incentive to risk its reputation to help the Russian government, you never know what the Laws and Secret Services may force you to do.
So we have arrived at the point where, through the maneuvering of the US Department of the Interior, it is being questioned that the most valuable thing a security company offers is security itself…
After this challenge on issues so important for the reputation of a company that promises security, the press release we mentioned above was a matter of time. And of course, as the company says, it may be for the protection of the company's customers from digital threats, regardless of their origin or purpose, but the main reason is the impending financial disaster of the company if it does not act immediately to regain its global reputation.
Example to emulate
The move by the US Department, although I'm not among those who generally support the US, seems to have borne fruit…
What would happen if the esteemed ministers issued a directive for the immediate removal of Microsoft products due to data collection via telemetry? Giant companies like Microsoft need more than a few posts on the support forum that mention complaints about the behavior of Windows 10.
Recall that the company was forced to hand over the source code of its software to Chinawhen it was threatened with a ban on Windows 10 in the country.
Do you feel safe?
The most important thing with any security software is that it makes you feel safe. If you no longer trust Kaspersky, switch to something else. It’s simple. Is it some political maneuver or something that actually happened?
We should note that since so many secret services are involved in this story, it is very difficult to say with certainty which side is right, or continues to play a game until the final downfall of the opponent.
Security, in short, does not exist on the internet. The story comes to remind us what is being played beneath the table, even with companies that we consider reliable.
Who guarantees you that Google, Microsoft, Apple, and many others are not collaborating with secret services?
