Using Kaspersky in EU 2023: Is it safe?

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has raised concerns about the potential security risks of using Kaspersky’s cybersecurity products. Despite being acknowledged as a top consumer product for Advanced Threat Protection, concerns have arisen about the potential risks associated with Kaspersky. This article aims to dig deeper into the reasons behind the concerns regarding Kaspersky’s safety, and to provide insights on whether the company’s products can still be trusted.

Is Kaspersky safe?

Kaspersky is recognised for producing top-notch products with potent threat-detection features. Unsurprisingly, doubts about Kaspersky may continue for some time because of the present political conflicts in Europe. Using Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Total Security may present certain security risks, but they are merely hypothetical dangers. Kaspersky openly states that the allegations lack any technical or objective evidence and that the company is willing to address and resolve any issues.

Although no public proof of the claims has been provided, several governments have released warnings against using Kaspersky products or have simply banned their usage, particularly on computers running key infrastructure. Depending on how objective and justified you consider the government’s warnings to be, you can decide to either trust Kaspersky or not. Below you can read more about the security issues, whether Kaspersky is indeed banned and to what extent you can trust the company.

Kaspersky: Security Issues

The concerns about Kaspersky’s cybersecurity have grown because of the war between Russia and Ukraine. The US Government has banned Kaspersky before from federal employees in 2017, and more recently, in March 2022, The U.S Federal Communications Commision (FCC) added Kaspersky to its list of national security risks. Other countries, including Germany, Italy and Lithuania, have also warned people and businesses about the security risks of using Kaspersky’s software. To function properly, antivirus softwares requires full access to your computer. This is how antivirus softwares scans devices to detect and remove malware and other harmful files. Kaspersky products, like Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Total Security, work the same way. They monitor your device in real-time, update remotely, and send files to the cloud for analysis.

Governments are worried about Kaspersky’s ability to keep its business and networks private from the Russian government. As Kaspersky is headquartered in Moscow, there is a concern that the Russian government could exploit its network. However, there is no direct proof to support these allegations. Kaspersky’s global transparency initiative has moved much of its core infrastructure and customer data to Switzerland, which should help protect its databases from unwanted government intrusion.

Is Kaspersky banned?

Kaspersky is currently banned in the United States and in the Netherlands without any evidence of abuse. In 2018 the Dutch government carried an investigation on Kaspersky due to allegations of espionage and sabotage. The research could not prove any of the accusations and despite this, the government still banned the use of Kaspersky. The decision was heavily based on hypotheticals and probabilities.Other European countries like Lithuania also introduced partial bans on computers and networks with confidential data. In Germany and in Italy warnings were announced and users were advised to replace Kaspersky products with another service. The European Parliament has proposed an EU-wide ban on Kaspersky, however this has not yet happened due to lack of evidence. Kaspersky has answered to all these allegations by offering full transparency and data overview. In short, you have no justified reason to fear for your data and security when using Kaspersky.

What is Kaspersky Internet Security?

Kaspersky Internet Security is an ideal antivirus software for both private and business purposes. The application, which is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and IOS, provides several security measures in a simple user interface. You are shielded against ransomware, trackers, advertisements, webcam hackers, and other security concerns such as viruses and malware. The Internet Security plan provides protection for your browsing, online shopping, chats, and any kind of data. Above the real-time antivirus features there are numerous additional tools included like VPN, webcam protection or private browsing.

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Can you trust Kaspersky?

Due to worries about potential ties to the Kremlin, the European Commission was proposing a ban on Kaspersky Lab, a Russian cybersecurity business. However, Kaspersky Lab strongly disputes any connections to the Russian government and has offered to provide the EU access to its software’s source code for analysis. The EU is still skeptical because the Russian government has a history of using cyberattacks for political ends. Due to this, Kaspersky released a statement when the German Federal Agency for Information Security (BSI) issued a warning. Nevertheless, customers have been informed by Kaspersky that security is taken seriously and that their products are extensively checked for flaws. Additionally, Kaspersky has stated that the company is prepared to work with the BSI to address any issues and supply the data required for an unbiased evaluation. Kaspersky underlines that it has never engaged in any criminal activity and that its primary focus is on securing its clients from online risks.

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