Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, known for its antivirus software, is at the center of a controversy regarding its alleged involvement in aiding Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine. InformNapalm, an intelligence group, has accused Kaspersky of assisting in the development of drones used for reconnaissance by the Russian military, as per a detailed investigation conducted on data exfiltrated from a Russian company called Albatross.
The timeline traces back to 2018 when a team named ALB-search, participating in a drone technology competition, failed to win but later became integral to Albatross’s establishment. InformNapalm claims that two members of the ALB-search team, Florov and Spiridonov, ascended to leadership roles in Albatross, and another member, Kalmykov, founded the company. Notably, two other members, Kleshnin and Turov, who were involved in developing Albatross’s spy drones, were employees of Kaspersky during that period. Furthermore, Turov has been heading Kaspersky’s Antidrone platform since 2018, emphasizing the company’s role in detecting and countering unmanned aerial vehicles.
The project’s inception aimed to create drones equipped with cameras, microphones, and artificial intelligence to detect human presence and communicate coordinates back to the base. An Albatross slide deck from the pilfered documents touted, “Kaspersky Lab uses Albatross drones as a carrier for its intelligent systems,” reinforcing the alleged symbiotic relationship between the two entities.
However, Kaspersky vehemently refutes these assertions, describing the accusations as “multiple false statements” based on “factual inaccuracies and speculations.” The company acknowledges an experimental collaboration with Albatross, but solely for humanitarian purposes. Kaspersky also affirms that any involvement Turov and Kleshnin had with Albatross predated their time at the firm, and their Antidrone solutions distribution agreement with Albatross concluded in 2022.
Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport’s recent announcement about the installation of an AI-powered radar system, Yenot-SD, designed to detect and jam drones. Russian state media linked Kaspersky to the operation of the system, although a company spokesperson disputed this claim, stating that their software is “considered for the future at the airport” and that the Yenot-SD system does not cater to military drone defense.
Relevant articles:
– Kaspersky denies claims it helped Russia with drones, The Register
– Moscow airport claims to have AI-powered radar system that can jam drones, but developer says it’s not true, Business Insider
– Should You Buy Kaspersky Security Products?, pcmag.com