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DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

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Re: DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

#71
post #57
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That begs the question, which is "why is the level of confrontation increasing now, as opposed to 4 years ago?"

Because Russia is a domestic political issue in the US - it's been anointed as the McGuffin in the battle between the two main parties over the presidency.

[deleted]

Re: DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

#72
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So its even more important for public to see the evidence. Otherwise it feels like private vendetta most likely because Kaspersky is Russian (you know, our current Administration doesn't like Russians much) who actually build his empire on fighting Russian Government-funded cyberspying (claims Wikipedia). I'm sure if Kaspersky sells tons of software on US soil, and most likely pay taxes on US soil, then they will sue…

You're unlikely to see the evidence in this case. Could you be clearer about exactly which "discrimination" code or statute the USG would be violating, even if they were doing this capriciously?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_attainder

Re: DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

#73
I doubt the hive mind of HN will notice this comment, but if you read the Glenn Greenwald book, No Place to Hide, it shows this is actually a tactic of the CIA to get you to use compromised security. Plausible: Kapersky is actually blocking the CIA efforts, so they need you to use a compromised version of security from some else.

Re: DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

#74
post #72
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're unlikely to see the evidence in this case. Could you be clearer about exactly which "discrimination" code or statute the USG would be violating, even if they were doing this capriciously?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_attainder

The federal government choosing to disallow a vendor on the basis of (presumably) security claims/policies is not a bill of attainder.

Re: DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

#75
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The level of confrontation and its trend is what's new.

That begs the question, which is "why is the level of confrontation increasing now, as opposed to 4 years ago?"

Ukraine? Syria?

Re: DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

#76
post #17

This is very bad for Kaspersky. Put aside how much revenue the entire GSA market represents for a security company (it'll be a double-digit percentage for a typical company). The bigger problem is that in the wake of this, every systemically important financial firm will also eject Kaspersky. In addition to being another significant chunk of revenue, major financial firms set the buying direction for IT security for…

If we don't speculate at all, we're left with the following bullet points from news articles this year: - Michael Flynn was paid by Kaspersky to speak at its seminar (probably nothing, but mildly interesting) - US Intel community considers Kaspersky to be an arm of the Russian government - Kaspersky employee arrested in sting by Russian government for treason - US Intel officials believe Kaspersky employees in US eng…

The US can damage Kaspersky's reputation, while Russia can arrest Kaspersky executives for treason and/or slip them a polonium cocktail. Which do you think has greater leverage?

Re: DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

#77
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The level of confrontation and its trend is what's new.

That begs the question, which is "why is the level of confrontation increasing now, as opposed to 4 years ago?"

It does not, begging the question means something else entirely... this raises the question.

Re: DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

#78
post #20

None of the following is confirmed, but I keep seeing articles online hinting around this, or implying this. Essentially it sounds like is known in classified circles that Kaspersky works closely with and supports Russian Intelligence (FSB). It seems while the US knew about this it had a spy within Kaspersky and was their source for finding out what they were up to. The accused spy was arrested by the FSB recently so…

You're making a very big leap from 'Russia arrested someone and charged him with treason' to 'That person was actually a US spy' and even 'The arrest of this person who was actually a US spy is the driver behind a particular US policy'. We just don't have any reasonable insight into why Russia arrests people and what, if anything, they're guilty of.

Wasn't that individual the person who supplied information in the Steele Report?

Re: DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

#79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So its even more important for public to see the evidence. Otherwise it feels like private vendetta most likely because Kaspersky is Russian (you know, our current Administration doesn't like Russians much) who actually build his empire on fighting Russian Government-funded cyberspying (claims Wikipedia). I'm sure if Kaspersky sells tons of software on US soil, and most likely pay taxes on US soil, then they will sue…

It's possible they're trying to tank Kapersky but considering all the backdoors the NSA injected in American software (RSA[0], PRISM[1]), it seems very plausible the Russian government does exactly the same thing to Russian software. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_BSAFE [1] https://www.theverge.com/2013/6/6/4403868/nsa-fbi-mine-data-...

We always suggested to activists to consider the geopolitical loyalty of the company selling your software (especially security software) when picking a provider. Its a crappy rule of thumb but can occasionally be helpful.

Working in/on Russia - not Kaspersky

Working in/on Israel - not Checkpoint

Working in/on UK (e.g drone strikes) - not Sophos

Working in/on US - etc etc

Ultimately capability and costs of the software was the main thing but the more you heard about Kaspersky style stuff, the more its seems relevant. Hanging around the security space long enough, you meet people at Western security software companies who quietly will express some concern about what goes on inside their own places. It reminds me of Huawei hysteria.

Re: DHS Issues BOD Banning Kaspersky from Federal Government

#80
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does that conclusion follow your premise? Premise: US AV companies are deeply connected to the US intelligence communities. Conclusion: Deep suspicion of criticism that a Russian AV company may be connected with Russian intelligence communities?

Right. As a US citizen, I guess I would pick the US spying on me if I had to choose between the US and a foreign government.

If the US wants to spy on you, it doesn't matter what software you pick.

See how NSA spied on internal Google networks, even if Google was already in PRISM.

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