Russ Harvey Consulting - Computer and Internet Services

Kaspersky Security

Recommended security software

US Ban | Rated Very High | Obtaining Kaspersky
Installing/Updating | Uninstalling
System Requirements

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Kaspersky security products. All rights reserved.

Is Kaspersky Safe to Use?

My recommendation of Kaspersky products is based upon the superior protection shown in third-party tests for over ten years.

I feel Kaspersky remains a viable alternative unless you're affected by an official ban or unable to obtain security updates for any reason. In such cases I recommend ZoneAlarm for Windows home users.

Security Concerns Unproven

Kaspersky is facing allegations of a potential threat rather than a proven security incident.

No evidence of Kaspersky use or abuse for malicious purpose has ever been discovered and proven in the company's twenty-five years' history notwithstanding countless attempts to do so.
Eugene Kaspersky, March 16, 2022

Kaspersky was launched in Russia and that creates the potential for a conflict of interest because of the war in Ukraine and the use of cybersecurity warfare in that conflict.

These risks are potential security risks and speculation rather than hard facts and proven vulnerability to Russian government influence. The company has remained open to addressing any concerns.

Kaspersky an International Company

Kaspersky is a multinational company with offices in 31 countries, servicing users in over 200 countries and territories. According to BIS, Kaspersky provides services to over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients globally.
Bitsight Security Research

Kaspersky moved their international operations out of Russia in 2018 and began a series of transparency initiatives to deal with these concerns. Much of the core infrastructure and customer databases for its international business was moved to Switzerland in 2018.

No other cybersecurity provider has done anything as far reaching as this. In opening the Center, Kaspersky takes a significant step towards becoming completely transparent about its protection technologies, infrastructure and data processing practices.
Kaspersky
As part of its Global Transparency Initiative, Kaspersky Lab is adapting its infrastructure to move a number of core processes from Russia to Switzerland. This includes customer data storage and processing for most regions, as well as software assembly, including threat detection updates. To ensure full transparency and integrity, Kaspersky Lab is arranging for this activity to be supervised by an independent third party, also based in Switzerland.
BusinessWire May 15, 2018

The U.S. Kaspersky Ban

The U.S. government has banned the sale or updates to Kaspersky products to U.S. citizens. Announced June 20, 2024, the ban is effective at midnight EDT on September 29, 2024.

Replacing a critical security product like Kaspersky could lead to gaps in coverage. Security leaders should also understand which of their critical third party vendors or suppliers are leveraging Kaspersky products. Knowing that a critical vendor has a plan to effectively transition from Kaspersky to another product will provide important assurance to security leaders.
Bitsight Security Research
Kaspersky does not engage in activities which threaten U.S. national security and, in fact, has made significant contributions with its reporting and protection from a variety of threat actors that targeted U.S. interests and allies.
Kaspersky Press Release

PCMag added this warning to their review of Kaspersky Antivirus on July 3, 2024:

PCMag rates and evaluates products based on their merits and effectiveness, not on political considerations. However, the US government has banned all sales of Kaspersky products in the US. Those using the products can continue, but after September 29, 2024, they won't have access to necessary antivirus updates. Because of this, we can't recommend purchasing Kaspersky's products. — PCMag

Because of the U.S. ban, U.S. customers would not have been able to update their Kaspersky security software after September 29, 2024, making it increasingly unsafe to use. So U.S. customers would remain protected Kaspersky uninstalled and replaced its product with Pango's UltraAV.

Some users were upset with this, even though I feel it says a lot about Kaspersky's ethics by being concerned with customer security. The concerns seems more related to fears that malware had been installed (probably because they'd ignored emails telling them about the pending changes).

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Kaspersky Rated Very High

Today's devices are continually connected to the Internet so you NEED a decent security suite.

Security products, by their very nature, require deep penetration into your operating system and frequently “call home” for security updates. That is a reason to be careful in your selection of security software.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus takes perfect or near-perfect scores from all the independent testing labs, and it aced our hands-on ransomware protection test. It remains an antivirus Editors' Choice.
  • Perfect and near-perfect scores from four independent testing labs
  • Effective ransomware protection
  • Good scores in our hands-on tests
  • Full-scale phone and live chat support
  • Bonus scans for privacy and performance
PCMag March 28, 2022
Kaspersky is AV-Comparatives' Product of the Year for 2023, having taken the highest Advanced+ award in all seven tests. It additionally receives Silver Awards for the Real-World Protection Test, Malware Protection Test, and Advanced Threat Protection Test along with Bronze Awards for Low False Positives and the Performance Test. In our checks, source malware samples were deleted from USB drives network shares and network shares before they could be copied.
AV-Comparatives

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Obtaining Kaspersky

Ensure you choose the right Kaspersky product.

Kaspersky now refers to their consumer product line as Kaspersky Standard, Plus and Premium.

Kaspersky Standard provides only an antivirus solution, insufficient protection against multifaceted attacks that are common today.

Kaspersky Premium

Kaspersky Premium is supported on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

Our triple-layer protection system works 24/7 to secure your devices and data. It blocks common and complex threats like viruses, malware, ransomware, spy apps, and all the latest hacking techniques.

Besides real-time antivirus protection Kaspersky Premium includes:

Kaspersky Premium provides for up to 10 devices for one, two or three years. Your subscription will automatically renew each term until you cancel it.

Keep a copy of the license key in a safe place in case you need it.

Kaspersky Plus

Kaspersky Plus is supported on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

Our triple-layer protection system works 24/7 to secure your devices and data. It blocks common and complex threats like viruses, malware, ransomware, spy apps, and all the latest hacking techniques.

Besides real-time antivirus protection Kaspersky Plus includes:

Kaspersky Plus provides for up to five devices for one or two years. Your subscription will automatically renew each term until you cancel it.

Keep a copy of the license key in a safe place in case you need it.

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Installing & Updating Kaspersky

Download the installer for the product you purchased by following the links provided in the landing page following purchase or from the purchase email. Alternatively, you can log into your Kaspersky account and download the product you purchased.

Installation procedures vary by device and operating system. If unsure, seek out professional advice.

  1. Uninstall any pre-existing security software on your computer or device before proceeding. Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows computers is the only exception.
  2. Restart your device before installation to avoid issues.
  3. Install the security software for your device following normal installation steps. Some devices will warn you about installing software obtained outside of their proprietary stores.
  4. When installation is complete, ensure you're running the most recent security updates available for your product.
  5. If prompted, restart your device to finish the installation process.

Updating Kaspersky

It is important to remain updated to provide the best possible protection. Kaspersky products will automatically update but I tend to check for updates after starting my devices and periodically during the day.

Security updates normally do not require manual installation. Open the Kaspersky interface and click on Database Update to manually update.

Checking for a Newer Version

Major updates which provide security fixes and feature updates must be downloaded then installed.

To check for updates you may need to sign into your Kaspersky account.

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Uninstalling Kaspersky Products

If you want to stop using Kaspersky, be sure to uninstall it properly.

Disabling Security Will Cause Problems

Disabling the startup of Kaspersky (or any security product) will cause you problems because it continues to run invisibly. This feature ensures that your security software can't be disabled by malware.

Try the Windows Uninstaller First

First try uninstalling your Kaspersky software using the uninstaller built into Windows.

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System Requirements

For All Devices

The following requirements are common to all devices:

Windows-based Desktops and Laptops

Mac Desktops and Laptops

Android Smartphones and Tablets

iPhone and iPad

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Updated: September 26, 2024