Kaspersky's annual revenue was $640 million in 2016. However, the security company found itself in a difficult position when the US decided to ban the use of its security software. As Eugene Kaspersky said, the government 's move actually made no sense and that its accusations were completely baseless.
At the time of the ban, the company had only $50,000 in transactions with the US government, an amount that the CEO describes as "negligible" compared to the amount the government wasted on congressional rallies regarding the ban.
The ban in the USA
What was the reason for the ban?
"I think it's better to ask this question from the other side of the Pacific Ocean.".
Kaspersky told ZDNet that the company's software isn't focused on performance, but could detect threats originating from the state. It says the threats fall into two broad categories: Those that steal data and are focused on espionage, and those that steal money and are likely to come from criminals. The company believes that the software's ability to detect such threats and suggest connections between the malware's source code and various organizations may be the reason the U.S. government doesn't want to use the software, as it may be trying to hide something.
After the US banned the software, the company saw its profits increase in other parts of the world, to the point where the damage was recouped. And employees who left Kaspersky in 2016 are now starting to return, indicating that the business is starting to recover.
The company has opened transparency centers in Zurich, London and Bonn, giving customers access to source code and ensuring that data is stored in countries where it is legally protected. It noted that a new center will open in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but that the opening there has been delayed as a result of the COVID-19.
The Russian internet
The geopolitical climate that led to the ban has changed in recent years. One of the emerging trends is that many countries, including Russia, are seeking to protect their sovereign interests online. The so-called “Russian Internet” is one such initiative. But Kaspersky says he doesn’t see this as an isolationist policy.
The possibility of Russia disconnecting from the Internet and creating its own domestic network is unlikely. There are too many connections and cutting them would be hugely costly for the country.
