Some Kaspersky Customers Receive Surprise Forced-Update To New Antivirus Software
- Reference: 0175114313
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/24/09/23/1949250/some-kaspersky-customers-receive-surprise-forced-update-to-new-antivirus-software
- Source link:
> "Woke up to Kasperky [sic] completely gone from my system with Ultra AV and Ultra VPN freshly installed (not by me, just automatically while I slept)," a user on Reddit wrote. Others reported having the same experience in the same Reddit thread, as well as in other threads. A reseller, who until recently sold Kaspersky products prior to the recent sales ban, told TechCrunch that he was left "annoyed" by the move to automatically remove Kaspersky software and replace it with an entirely different antivirus. A former senior U.S. government cybersecurity official said that this was an example of the "huge risk" posed by the access granted by Kaspersky software. It's worth noting that, on the other hand, other customers did report receiving an email from Kaspersky about the transition to UltraAV.
[1] https://news.slashdot.org/story/24/06/20/1322221/biden-to-ban-us-sales-of-kaspersky-software-over-ties-to-russia
[2] https://it.slashdot.org/story/24/09/06/1855245/kaspersky-to-transfer-us-customers-to-ultraav-after-ban
[3] https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/23/some-kaspersky-customers-receive-surprise-forced-update-to-new-antivirus-software/
In Soviet Russia... (Score:2)
...software runs YOU!
Could have been worse (Score:3)
At least the users of Kaspersky got to use the remainder of their subscriptions with another AV provider. With the sanctions its likely Kaspersky couldn't make refunds. If they wanted to spite users in the US they could have just shut off access to their services and walked away with the unused subscription cash, likely zilch that anyone would be able to do to recoup their loss. Seems like they are trying to be good guys with the shitty situation they got stuck in.
... a surprise for those who don't read emails. (Score:2)
Seriously, they sent like 5 emails that this would happen.
Free sw updates ... (Score:1)
I said it in the past, and i say it again, do not run critical software or hardware that is under the control of a government thats an enemy to your government. Just this week we had exploding pagers, installation of software without permission (here).
This is not directed against Kaspersky, instead if a larger conflict broke out, russian FSB would knock on Kasperskys doors not entirely dissimilar to US knocking on doors and freezing $ deposits from Russia. The banks could say "no" to this, as much as kaspe
Who owns my computer? (Score:4, Insightful)
> Woke up to Kasperky [sic] completely gone from my system with Ultra AV and Ultra VPN freshly installed (not by me, just automatically while I slept)
More proof that you don't own your computer or any software on it.
Re: (Score:3)
> More proof that you don't own your computer or any software on it.
You've never owned the software on it. You've only ever licensed the software. Granted with F/OSS it's a bit muddier into what ownership actually is, but for the most part you've licensed the software.
And Kaspersky is not software, it's a subscription. You bought a subscription for an anti-virus service. How it's provided has changed in that they gave all the leftover subscription to a new provider who removed the old software and installed t
Re: Who owns my computer? (Score:1, Offtopic)
this is just one instance of what i call "the fucktard problem," wherein an ignorant person (the eponymous fucktard) is so ignorant about an entire field of knowledge and practice that they are shocked by what is common knowledge to anyone who is not ignorant.
this is not so bad on its own, but the fucktard can often be recruited to join any moronic or counter-factual crusade that a puppeteer wishes him to.
tl;dr: social media has turned everyone into concern trolls of varying levels of willfulness.
Re: (Score:3)
I do own my computers. And I assure you, nobody is replacing anything without my permission.