Some US Kaspersky customers find their security software replaced by 'UltraAV' Some US-based users of Kaspersky antivirus products have found their software replaced by product from by a low-profile entity named "UltraAV" – a change they didn't ask for, and which has delivered them untested and largely unknown software from a source with a limited track record. The reason for the unheralded change is the …
Something doesn't pass the smell test, (1) because Kaspersky is leaving (2) users have consented to UltraAv being installed? That seems like a legal and logical train-wreck likely to leave consumers holding the bag. What is Kaspersky getting out of the switcheroo? The article seems to have glossed over what agreement gives UltraAV the right to foist it's untested code on users as Kaspersky exits? That will be for the lawyers to figure out. The whole arrangement has the unseemly sense of a flashing red "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" hovering over it.
Users apparently were sent notice about this update weeks ago. Here is a Reddit post with a copy of the notice. So at the very least, users had the chance to cancel their subscriptions at that point if they didn't want the switch. I'd like to see the "communications from UltraAV" mentioned in that notice, but I'm guessing that would have been another chance to opt out of the process.
Of course, people ignore emails, or they get spam filtered, but it seems to me that, having been forced to pull out of the US market, Kaspersky put an alternative in place that would allow seamless continued protection, and made best effort to communicate the switch to customers. They could equally well have been legally in trouble if people with active, paid subscriptions lost their protection and then got infected with malware, so they were in a bit of a lose/lose situation there.
That PART!! And they were probably counting on that information that they -claimed - they sent to wind up in people's spam folders or somewhere crazy, so they can say that they sent it! And it ain't our fault if you didn't read it!! If you ask me - the customers ARE in a LOSE/LOSE situation!!!
"Isn't adding code with unknown and potentially unfriendly capabilities part of what Kaspersky was supposed to stop?"
Well, they didn't decide to go on their own, they were very officially thrown out of the USA, so I guess that nullifies the contract due to force majeure. "Please contact the White House for your ongoing AV protection."
"Please contact the White House for your ongoing AV protection."
Which is exactly why, as I mentioned before, Kaspersky's offer of 'view our code' was refused, as doing so makes the U.S. Government responsible for code quality assurance from that point on.
I know *I* certainly wouldn't want to get involved / put myself in the middle of that potential, and never-ending, hotspot.
To become the Kaspersky replacement? Given that Kaspersky would no longer feel any need to serve the needs of those who are no longer their customers, it is probably "highest bidder, with no due diligence". Maybe UltraAV is a good guy hoping to leverage this into a massive increase in their business by converting some of those involuntary installs into paid customers (whether via deliberate decision or end user confusion) or maybe UltraAV are bad guys who have installed a rootkit on everyone PCs. Or will with their next update once Kaspersky feels they have plausible deniability.
>” Most major anti-malware vendors allow independent testers to assess their products to demonstrate their abilities and features”
That doesn’t stop testers downloading/purchasing new products and testing them…
Going back a few years, some testers deliberately purchased stuff to test, so as to ensure they tested what you and I would be buying…
Seriously, if you're still using Kaspersky, you would wake up one day and find your PCs are running 'Pooty Poot's SchlongV - Totally Legit For Sure AV, DA' and you would have no basis for complaint.
And of course they're wildly overcharging you for this spyware when even Windows Defender would work better.
Yes, of course it would. And it certainly won't start eating your desktop icons and then delete the associated programs off your computer will it! Nope, absolutely not and it never, ever has done either... oh and please don't click any link that might happen to be below.
Defender works okay, but administrating it is pure 1980's IT hell. Worst menu system ever for any product. So painful to use. and when it stops working - you can't reinstall, restart it, you just have to wait till it wants to work. Then the support, is more like torture most of the time. Out of about 50 tickets with them in the last year, they fixed maybe 3 issues. And they all say - go to our forums and tell us what needs fixed, Eff that, I have a day job - abet more crappy (work to manage) than when we had the better AV. Defender must have over 200 screens to manage their crap on. it is worse than disappointing; it is a heavy burden.
The logical response to the US government's ban is to work with a lesser known software company that can resell your technology under the banner of the good 'ole Stars 'n Stripes. Its truly a win/win for everyone except for that handful of true Cold Warriors who have to have that total victory, the ground sown with salt and so on.
I'm surprised that nobody seems to have thought this one up -- the article and comments all seem to think that UltraAV is some completely different product which, obviously, it is on paper but given the rather slippery nature of abstractions like algorithms could easily incorporate Kaspersky's technology without anyone being the wiser. Whether or not this is the case I'll leave to the Cold Warriors in our midst; they're usually a bit light on technical expertise so it will keep 'em busy for a bit rather than dreaming up yet more ways to bother the rest of us.
Disappointing Kaspersky would pawn off users to a unknown AV. Kaspersky being banned from Government systems by computer illiterate bureaucrats who don't bother to read the legislation they pass into law, based on rumor and speculation from Kaspersky employees with zero or limited knowledge of company dealings. Multiple Governments and state intelligence agencies have scrutinized Kaspersky AV products and none have found any indications of spying. Given Kaspersky's reputation in the AV community, I find it all but impossible to believe they would jeopardize their reputation and risk the entire companies existence with spying. Do people really believe Putin would somehow rescue Kaspersky or even admit to it if they were caught spying for the Government? Yeah, like VP Harris with the border crisis.
KASPERSKY, I've been a loyal customer for decades! you could not even give me the frickin' decency of notification at least 6 MONTHS ago!!! You know DARN WELL you are making money off of this deal and you choose to hide behind the government and their whisperings! You gave us someone who has not even been tested?!! You replaced your great standings with a shady, under-developed & under-tested company that YOU don't even know if their software works?!! You know darn-tooin' they are sub-par!! But you went for the money, right? And left your customers who were loyal to you - high & dry right!!! All because you were loyal to the money instead of us - your customers - who made you what you are today!!! Thanks for letting people steal our identities now!!! Thanks for letting people steal our hard-earned money right out of my hands!!! You ARE just like all the other companies going for the money instead of the customers - a piece of you know what!!!
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