Question Kaspersky back in the news, again

[punkncat]

Anyone see this?

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/09/politics/biden-administration-americans-russian-software/index.html

 

[COLGeek]

An expansion (potentially) of previous prohibitions is not too surprising given global tensions.

 

[Priscus]

'allaboutcookies.org' says, "Unfortunately, we can't recommend using Kaspersky because of the potential national security threat. The product also collects too much extremely personal data to be considered safe.8 Jan 2024"

However, 'kaspersky.com' says, "KASPERSKY WILL ONLY PROCESS PERSONAL DATA FOR PARTICULAR, PRE-DETERMINED PURPOSES THAT ARE LEGITIMATE WITH REGARD TO APPLICABLE LAW, AND THAT ARE RELEVANT TO KASPERSKY'S BUSINESS."

Which kind of left me wondering: maybe they all collect information which we would prefer them not to, and would not resist being abused by organs of the state, should such circumstances arise.

Or, am I just being paranoid?

 

[Cilantro7536]

However, 'kaspersky.com' says, "KASPERSKY WILL ONLY PROCESS PERSONAL DATA FOR PARTICULAR, PRE-DETERMINED PURPOSES THAT ARE LEGITIMATE WITH REGARD TO APPLICABLE LAW, AND THAT ARE RELEVANT TO KASPERSKY'S BUSINESS."

Which kind of left me wondering: maybe they all collect information which we would prefer them not to, and would not resist being abused by organs of the state, should such circumstances arise.

Or, am I just being paranoid?

It seems that tech companies often have open-ended data collection policies so they can do whatever they like, even if they may not be currently doing it.

Avast was caught selling users' data. AVG is now owned by the same company. McAfee was reported in 2019 to be collecting users' data excessively. Norton was also reported to collect users data although the company denied selling it.

US governments seem to just buy users' data available on the open market due to weak privacy laws. Authoritarian states probably can do whatever they like. It's hard to trust their companies even if they aren't apparently doing anything untoward. OTH, the governments opposing them may be pushing agendas on FUD.

 

[punkncat]

Surely something to be said about the above remarks. Probably not an issue that the semi legal and certainly invasive data collection is going on, but is made into an issue when an American company is not the one getting the metadata.
To say that it is a security risk is a bit of an under and overstatement, really. If such continues to be the course are we going to see Huwai phones taken off the market? Similarly, will one no longer be able to purchase a smart TV unless it is made in certain select locations?