Because of Ukraine War: Federal Office warns of Russian virus protection

Millions of people use the virus protection software Kaspersky. Now a German federal authority warns before the program - because of the Urkraine war.

• Federal Office Warnt Kaspersky: Russian virus protection may not be safe anymore
• Cyber ​​attack on Germany? Users should change to other virus protection software
• Users should change software for virus protection - Federal Office warns against security gaps
• Federal Office warns against Kaspersky programs: Virus protection no longer trustworthy

Dortmund - the effects of the Ukraine war make in front of Germany *, but also before safety on the internet, no stop. The Federal Office for Safety in Information Technology (BSI) now warns against a new dimension of the risk of Russian cyber attacks - and advises users to use an alternative antivirus program, as Office * reports.

Federal Office Warnt Kaspersky: Russian virus protection may not be safe anymore

According to worldwide, there are to use approximately 400 million users security software of the Russian company Kaspersky. On Tuesday (March 15), German Federal Office for Safety in Information Technology (BSI) gave out a warning and recommends no longer use virus protection programs of the manufacturer.

Users should "replace applications from the portfolio of virus protection software of Kaspersky through alternative products," it says in the message. But what is the problem with the virus protection programs of the Russian software company?

Cyber ​​attack on Germany? Users should change to other virus protection software

The BSI fears that the programs of the Russian software developers could be abused by Russia in the face of Ukraine's war. The speech is of virus and hacker attacks on IT systems.

Headquartered in Bonn, the authority establishes her warning on the Russian-side threats against the EU, NATO and the Federal Republic of Germany ". The risk of an IT attack is considerable, the Federal Office continues to appeal to users (more news about digital * at Office)

How exactly such a cyber attack from Russian side could look like is currently not estimating. However, the Federal Office is that both private individuals and companies and authorities that use the Software of Kaspersky are endangered.

Users should change software for virus protection - Federal Office warns against security gaps

Kaspersky is known for its programs that should guarantee customer security on the Internet. These include anti-virus programs, but also password managers and programs such as child safety registrations for the computer and a VPN service. Users should therefore necessarily see if they are affected by the possible vulnerability * and, if necessary, install a new virus protection program.

A change to a new software is always associated with temporary "comfort, functional and safety losses", the BSI. Therefore, the authority advises that users assess the situation individually and then weigh what the best solution is for you.

As an alternative to the Russian protection programs, the Federal Office also issues a list of certified IT security providers to relate to customers and ask for advice. Among other things to be found, Deutsche Telekom Security GmbH, Hisolutions AG or TÜV Informationstechnik GmbH

Federal Office warns against Kaspersky programs: Virus protection no longer trustworthy

Another problem with the Russian IT manufacturer is that the Federal Office can not currently assess whether Kaspersky may choose cyber attacks - or whether the company is forced by Russian rulers against his will to attack certain systems.

The BSI fears that Kaspersky could also spy on his own knowledge and could be abused as a tool for attacks against his own customers. As soon as the reliability and trustworthiness of a software manufacturer insisted, according to the German authority always a special risk that virus software and other IT systems are no longer safe. Therefore, customers and users should no longer rely on the corresponding programs. _ * Office is part of the editorial network from phadia_

Category list picture: © Frank Rumpenhorst / dpa