Kaspersky Lab

Kaspersky Lab
Private
Industry Computer software
Security software
Founded Moscow, Russia
(1997 (1997))
Founder Eugene Kaspersky
Headquarters Moscow, Russia
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Eugene Kaspersky (CEO)
Products Kaspersky Anti-Virus
Kaspersky Internet Security
Kaspersky Internet Security for Android
Kaspersky PURE
Kaspersky Total Security
Kaspersky Security for Business
Integrated security
Revenue Increase US$ 711 million (2014)[1]
Number of employees
 +3,000 (2015)[2]
Website Kaspersky.com

Kaspersky Lab (/kæˈspɜːrski/ ; Russian: Лаборатория Касперского, Laboratoriya Kasperskogo) is an international software security group operating in almost 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company is headquartered in Moscow, Russia, with its holding company registered in the United Kingdom. Kaspersky Lab currently employs over 2,850 qualified specialists. It has 31 representative territory offices in 30 countries and its products and technologies provide service for over 300 million users and over 250,000 corporate clients worldwide. The company is specially focused on large enterprises, and small and medium-sized businesses.

Overview

Kaspersky virlab. September 18, 2014

Kaspersky Lab offers consumer security products, such as anti-virus, anti-malware and firewall applications, in addition to security systems designed for small business, corporations and large enterprises. Corporate solutions include protection for workstations, file servers, mail servers, payment gateways, banking servers, mobile devices, and internet gateways,[3] managed through a centralized Administration Kit. These applications are also available in bundled security suites,[4] scaled to fit the requirements of organizations of varying sizes.

Kaspersky Lab ranks fourth in the global ranking of antivirus vendors.[5] It was the first Russian company to be included into the rating of the world’s leading software companies, called the Software Top 100 (79th on the list, as of 6/29/2012). Kaspersky Lab is ranked 4th in Endpoint Security segment according to IDC data for 2010.[6] According to Gartner, Kaspersky Lab is currently the third largest vendor of consumer IT security software worldwide and the fifth largest vendor of Enterprise Endpoint Protection. Kaspersky Lab has been named a "Leader" in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms.[7]

Competitors

Kaspersky Lab competes in the antivirus industry against Avast, AVG, Avira, BitDefender, BullGuard, ESET, F-Secure, Frisk, G Data, McAfee, Panda Security, Sophos, Symantec, and Trend Micro, among others.

History

The first product, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, was released by Eugene Kaspersky, in the middle of 1997.[8]

In 2006, Kaspersky Lab was ranked as the fastest growing internet security software within the United States,[9] based on NPD Group sales data.

Products

Home screen of Kaspersky Internet Security

Independent assessments

The anti-virus software testing group AV-Comparatives gave the Windows XP version of Kaspersky AV an "Advanced+" rating (its highest) in both its February 2008 on-demand detection test (with the fourth highest detection rate among 16 products tested).[17] However, in the Retrospective/Proactive Test May 2008, Kaspersky received the "Standard" rating, detecting 21% of new malware with 1-month old signatures and receiving a substantial amount of false positives.[18]

The firewall included in Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 got a "Very Good" rating in Matousec's Firewall challenge,[19] with a result of 85%. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0 has achieved a 6.5 result out of 8 in the Anti Malware Labs rootkit detection test.[20] It has also achieved a 31 out of 33 detection of polymorphic viruses[21] and a 97% result in the self-protection test.[22] In 2007, Kaspersky Internet Security 7 received an award from the British magazine PC Pro and also won a place in its "A List".[23]

Kaspersky has passed most of Virus Bulletin comparative tests since August 2003 (failing 8 of 54 tests).[24] In 2005, according to PC World magazine, Kaspersky anti-virus software provided the fastest updates for new virus and security threats in the industry.[25]

In PC World magazine’s March 2010 comparison of consumer security suites, Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 scored 4.5/5 stars, and was rated second overall.[26] In the December of 2011 version of AV-Comparatives' annual reports, Kaspersky Lab's software has achieved highest overall ranking and has earned the AV Comparatives' "Product of the Year" award.[27]

On 1 February 2012, the Kaspersky Internet Security has earned "AV-TEST Award for Best Repair 2011" award in the field of home user products from AV-TEST Institute.[28] On 28 January 2013, the Kaspersky Endpoint Security has earned "AV-TEST Award for Best Protection 2012" and "AV-TEST Award for Best Repair 2012" awards in the field of corporate products from AV-TEST Institute.[29]

Later in 2013, Kaspersky earned the product of the year award from AV-Comparatives and the highest score among Enterprise solutions in a Dennis Technology Labs report.[30][31]

Kaspersky has also received certification of their products through the OESIS OK Certification Program, which verifies that the applications are interoperable with third-party technology solutions like NAC and SSL VPN products from Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, F5 Networks, and others.[32]

Partnerships

The Kaspersky Anti-Virus engine also powers products or solutions by other security vendors, such as Check Point, Bluecoat, Juniper Networks, Microsoft Forefront,[33] Netintelligence, Clearswift, FrontBridge, Netasq, Wedge Networks, and others. Altogether, more than 120 companies are licensing technology from Kaspersky Lab. Kaspersky Lab also has a number of partnerships with various technology companies.

The International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats where Datuk Mohd Noor Amin acts as the Chairman, announced the appointment of Harry Cheung – Managing Director of Kaspersky Lab, APAC – as the Goodwill Ambassador for Greater China.[34]

Kaspersky Lab runs several global sponsorships, for example, the Scuderia Ferrari Racing Team[35][36] and geographical expeditions.[37]

Litigation

In May 2007, adware distributor Zango filed a lawsuit against Kaspersky Lab, accusing it of trade libel for blocking the installation of Zango software. In August, the court[38] ruled that the Communications Decency Act granted immunity to Kaspersky.[39]

Kaspersky has been active in defending itself against so-called patent trolls.[40]

Controversy

In March 2015, Bloomberg accused Kaspersky to have close ties to Russian military and intelligence officials. In 2007 the company itself claimed in its Japanese ad campaign with the slogan "A Specialist in Cryptography from KGB." The sales tactic, a local partner’s idea, was "quickly removed by headquarters."[41] However, Kaspersky himself graduated from the FSB Academy, formerly a KGB institution.[42] Kaspersky slammed the claims in his blog, calling the coverage "sensationalist" and guilty of "exploiting paranoia" to "increase readership," but did not state clearly whether these claims are true or not.[43]

In August 2015, Reuters published a report, citing two anonymous ex-employees, accusing Kaspersky of intentionally creating fake malware signatures in an effort to trick competitors into categorizing clean files as malicious. According to the anonymous sources, the signatures were created for over a decade, with an increase in activity from 2010, many of which allegedly uploaded to VirusTotal.[44] Kaspersky Lab denied the allegations;[45][46] on his personal blog, Eugene Kaspersky compared the accusations to unsubstantiated conspiracy theory.[47] Reuters followed up by publishing leaked emails allegedly from Kaspersky alluding to "falsies" and "rubbing out" international competitors; Kaspersky Labs stated the emails "may not be legitimate and were obtained from anonymous sources that have a hidden agenda".[48]

Discoveries

Flame malware

Main article: Flame (malware)

In May 2012, Kaspersky Lab identified the malware Flame, which a researcher described as potentially "the most sophisticated cyber weapon yet unleashed."[49] According to the researchers in Kaspersky Lab, the malware had infected an estimated 1,000 to 5,000 machines worldwide[50][51] when asked by the United Nations International Telecommunications Union to investigate reports of a virus affecting Iranian Oil Ministry computers.[52] As Kaspersky Lab investigated, they discovered an MD5 hash and filename that appeared only on customer machines from Middle Eastern nations. After discovering more pieces, researchers dubbed the program "Flame" after the name of one of its modules.[52]

Equation Group

Main article: Equation Group

At the Kaspersky Security Analysts Summit held in Mexico on February 16, 2015, Kaspersky Lab announced its discovery of the Equation Group. According to Kaspersky Lab's report, the group has been active since at least 2001, with more than 60 actors. The malware used in their operations, dubbed EquationDrug and GrayFish, is found to be capable of reprogramming hard disk drive firmware. Because of the advanced techniques involved and high degree of covertness, the group is suspected of ties to the NSA, but Kaspersky Lab has been unable to identify the actors behind the group.[53]

Other malware discovered by Kaspersky

When faced with allegations[54] in a Bloomberg News article about not reporting "Russia’s links to sophisticated spyware", Eugene Kaspersky mentioned on his blog[55] Kaspersky's "reports on Red October,[56] CloudAtlas,[57] Miniduke,[58] CosmicDuke,[59] Epic Turla,[60] Penguin Turla,[61] Black Energy 1[62] and 2,[63] Agent.BTZ,[64] and Teamspy[65]", and added: "According to some observers, these attacks were attributed to Russian cyber-spies."[55]

Others, not related to Russia:

Patents

As of June 2015, Kaspersky Lab had 322 patents in Russia, the US, China and Europe. The company has a further 301 patent applications pending in several countries.[67]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". Kaspersky.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  2. ↑ "About Us". Kaspersky.com. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  3. ↑ Business Security | Kaspersky Lab United States. Usa.kaspersky.com. Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  4. ↑ Business Security | Kaspersky Lab United States. Usa.kaspersky.com. Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  5. ↑ The company was rated fourth in the IDC rating Worldwide Endpoint Security Revenue by Vendor, 2010. The rating was published in the IDC report Worldwide IT Security Products 2011-2015 Forecast and 2010 Vendor Shares – December 2011. The report ranked software vendors according to earnings from sales of endpoint security solutions in 2010
  6. ↑ Worldwide Endpoint Security Revenue by Vendor, 2010
  7. ↑ Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms, Peter Firstbrook, Neil MacDonald, John Girard, January 16, 2012
  8. ↑ Tony Bradley. "In Their Own Words: Kaspersky Lab Cofounder And CEO Eugene Kaspersky". Forbes.
  9. ↑ NPD Group/Retail Tracking/Security Software July 2006-June 2009
  10. ↑ Kaspersky, Anti-Virus 2015
  11. ↑ Kaspersky, Internet Security 2015
  12. 1 2 Kaspersky, Internet Security for Android
  13. ↑ Kaspersky, Internet Security for Mac
  14. 1 2 3 4 KASPERSKY ENDPOINT SECURITY FOR BUSINESS, Advanced
  15. ↑ Kaspersky, Password Manager
  16. ↑ Mail Server Security | Kaspersky Lab
  17. ↑ "Anti-Virus comparative February 2008". Av-comparatives.org. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  18. ↑ "Retrospective / ProActive - Test May 2008". Av-comparatives.org. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  19. ↑ "Results and comments". matousec.com. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  20. ↑ "Anti-rootkit tests | Anti-Malware Test Lab". Anti-malware-test.com. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  21. ↑ "Anti-Malware Solutions Test Results | Anti-Malware Test Lab". Anti-malware-test.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  22. ↑ "Self-protection test | Anti-Malware Test Lab". Anti-malware-test.com. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  23. ↑ "Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 receives two top awards in testing conducted by the British magazine PC Pro". Kaspersky Lab. 2007-04-05.
  24. ↑ "VB100 Results Overview: Kaspersky".
  25. ↑ "Anti-Virus Personal 5.0 (Full Product)". PC World Magazine. 2005-01-25. Archived from the original on March 17, 2008. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  26. ↑ Kaspersky Lab Internet Security 2010 Antivirus & Security Software Review. PCWorld (2010-03-30). Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  27. ↑ "AV-Comparatives - Independent Tests of Anti-Virus Software - Summary Reports". Av-comparatives.org. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  28. ↑ "AV-TEST Award 2011". AV-TEST. 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  29. ↑ "AV-TEST 2012 Awards". AV-TEST.org. 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  30. ↑ Rubenking, Neil. "Kaspersky Named Antivirus Tsar". PC Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  31. ↑ Mesmmer, Ellen. "Enterprise anti-virus software test puts Kaspersky software out front, Microsoft at bottom". Network World. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  32. ↑ New versions of Kaspersky Lab's personal products. Kaspersky.com (2009-07-31). Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  33. ↑ "About our Partner: Microsoft Forefront". Kaspersky Lab.
  34. ↑ Event - Kaspersky Official eStore Southeast Asia
  35. ↑ Scuderia Ferrari Sponsorship
  36. ↑ "Kaspersky Lab Congratulates Scuderia Ferrari on its First Victory of the 2015 Formula One Season". Kaspersky Lab. 2015-03-31. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  37. ↑ "Kaspersky Lab to Support Felicity Aston in the Kaspersky One Transantarctic Expedition". Kaspersky.com. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  38. ↑ "Opinion of Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit" (PDF). June 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  39. ↑ "Zango tries, fails to sue its way out from under the "spyware" label". ars technica. August 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  40. ↑ "Eugene Kaspersky, patent troll killer". techworld.com. 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  41. ↑ Matlack, Carol (2015-03-19). "The Company Securing Your Internet Has Close Ties to Russian Spies". Bloomberg.
  42. ↑ "Kaspersky Lab repudiates new Russian spy claims". SC Magazine UK.
  43. ↑ "Eugene Kaspersky intensifies US vs Russia flame war, accusing Bloomberg of creating 'conspiracy theories' about his company". computing.co.uk.
  44. ↑ Menn, Joseph (2015-08-14). "Russian antivirus firm faked malware to harm rivals - Ex-employees". Reuters. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  45. ↑ Coldewey, Devin (14 August 2015). "Cybersecurity Firm Kaspersky Lab Denies It Sabotaged Competitors". NBC News. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  46. ↑ Carman, Ashley. "Kaspersky Lab denies allegations it induced false positive AV detections". SC Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  47. ↑ Sharwood, Simon. "Kaspersky: Freemasons coded fake malware in the Bermuda Triangle". The Register. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  48. ↑ Menn, Joseph (28 August 2015). "Exclusive: Russia's Kaspersky threatened to 'rub out' rival, email shows". Reuters. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  49. ↑ Chloe Albanesius (28 May 2012). "Massive 'Flame' Malware Stealing Data Across Middle East". PC World. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  50. ↑ "Flame virus: Five facts to know". The Times Of India. 29 May 2012.
  51. ↑ Damien McElroy and Christopher Williams (28 May 2012). "Flame: world's most complex computer virus exposed". The Telegraph (London). Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  52. 1 2 Kim Zetter (28 May 2012). "Meet ‘Flame’, The Massive Spy Malware Infiltrating Iranian Computers". Wired. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  53. ↑ http://www.kaspersky.com/about/news/virus/2015/equation-group-the-crown-creator-of-cyber-espionage
  54. ↑ Carol Matlack (19 March 2015). "Cybersecurity: Kaspersky Has Close Ties to Russian Spies - Bloomberg Business". Bloomberg.com.
  55. 1 2 "A practical guide to making up a sensation.". Nota Bene: Eugene Kaspersky's Official Blog.
  56. ↑ ""Red October" Diplomatic Cyber Attacks Investigation". securelist.com.
  57. ↑ "Cloud Atlas: RedOctober APT is back in style". securelist.com.
  58. ↑ "The MiniDuke Mystery: PDF 0-day Government Spy Assembler 0x29A Micro Backdoor". Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  59. ↑ "Miniduke is back: Nemesis Gemina and the Botgen Studio". securelist.com.
  60. ↑ "The Epic Turla Operation". securelist.com.
  61. ↑ "The 'Penquin' Turla - Securelist". Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  62. ↑ "Black DDoS". Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  63. ↑ "BE2 Custom Plugins, Router Abuse, and Target Profiles - Securelist". securelist.com.
  64. ↑ "Agent.btz: a Source of Inspiration?". Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  65. ↑ "The TeamSpy Crew Attacks – Abusing TeamViewer for Cyberespionage". securelist.com.
  66. ↑ "Kaspersky - Blue Termite APT Targets Japanese Organisation". spamfighter.com.
  67. ↑ "Kaspersky Lab’s Q1 2015 Patents Digest". Kaspersky. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.

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