Although I thought the same when I saw it, I think that's unfair. You could just as easily say Symantec/Norton/Microsoft Defender/Windows/Google is CIA/NSA. Since everything's being watched, Kaspersky might be just as much FSB as it is NSA, or any other country that could get its mitts on it. Cisco was definitely completely NSA there for a while, because of the backdoor. China's got Lenovo and every smart appliance, phone, and TV made in China, CIA/NSA have Dell, Korea and Japan have all of their smart TVs, phones, appliances, etc.
I'm being a little sarcastic, as obviously, they aren't watching everyone all of the time, really, and most devices' backdoors, for those that have them, are unused. I'm fine with all of it, for the most part. Yeah, I'm not perfect, and I don't want all my info made public or sold, but we give up much, much more just by everything being online. Our banks, investments, to some extent our medical history, geneology, likes/dislikes, actions, schedule... it's all there. Each of us could be simulated with all of the info they have at this point, but they can't fully- yet. Now they just have to keep and mine all the data- which they do, but it's selective; it'll be a lot less selective about what is analyzed as time goes on. Then one or more AI's will decide what will happen to all that information, and us, if we don't all kill our planet or each other before then.
Best thing to do? Use the hell out of Kaspersky OS. Use Red Flag Linux. Just take all of your banking info and give it to the Nigerian whose been asking for it. If we all just gave up on security, what would humanity do with all of that trust? Ok, maybe not such a good idea... maybe paranoia can help you be a little more secure, for now. However, if it's open source and you build it yourself- then at least you could look at it, if you wanted, and had time.
Actually MS was the one to first challenge National Security Letters. Moreover if it was found out that they had left a back door in it would result in the loss of billions of dollars in business, from Europe alone. Whereas Kaspersky very clearly will always have a Russian government/corporate client.
Are you sure Microsoft was? I thought Yahoo did. I can't find the reference now (Google is full of references to Yahoo being the first to disclose an NSL), but I seem to remember something from 2008-2009 era and Microsoft's challenge was in 2012-2013 era if memory serves. Not that this matters much in the grand scheme, but I'd still love to know which company really has that distinction. Links appreciated if you find one!
I suspect you're right, that said Yahoo has lost all respect from me after they've basically turned over everything without question after Mayer became CEO. In all honesty it's very hard to tell because the challenges are secret and sealed for the most part.
Apple only kind of stood up to the feds, they happily handed over the terrorists icloud account and all things associated, they only refused to be compelled to write software knowing full well that the FBI already easily had the capability to break into the iphone. I would say that the government having some sort of restricted access to this data could be useful and important to society IF, and only if, there were better civil liberties protections in place. DHS has way too much power, and we heard from Edward Snowden that our data is often irresponsibly used.
No, I defend it because one is a liberal democracy that has civil rights and has promoted liberty and democracy throughout the world (despite many flaws). The other is Russia.
I'm being a little sarcastic, as obviously, they aren't watching everyone all of the time, really, and most devices' backdoors, for those that have them, are unused. I'm fine with all of it, for the most part. Yeah, I'm not perfect, and I don't want all my info made public or sold, but we give up much, much more just by everything being online. Our banks, investments, to some extent our medical history, geneology, likes/dislikes, actions, schedule... it's all there. Each of us could be simulated with all of the info they have at this point, but they can't fully- yet. Now they just have to keep and mine all the data- which they do, but it's selective; it'll be a lot less selective about what is analyzed as time goes on. Then one or more AI's will decide what will happen to all that information, and us, if we don't all kill our planet or each other before then.
Best thing to do? Use the hell out of Kaspersky OS. Use Red Flag Linux. Just take all of your banking info and give it to the Nigerian whose been asking for it. If we all just gave up on security, what would humanity do with all of that trust? Ok, maybe not such a good idea... maybe paranoia can help you be a little more secure, for now. However, if it's open source and you build it yourself- then at least you could look at it, if you wanted, and had time.