Kaspersky installs new antivirus on users' computers without their permission
Although when we talk about a company of Kaspersky's caliber installing unauthorized software on its users' devices, it makes us shake our heads.
What seems impossible to happen with a brand like this is what happened to many users who saw an app appear on their computers that they didn’t have before. And all without intentionally installing it.
Spontaneously, forums like Reddit began to highlight this fact. One user recounted how when he woke up in the morning, he discovered that Kaspersky had disappeared from his computer and that two Ultra programs, AV and Ultra VPN, had been installed: “Not by me, but automatically while I was sleeping.”
But it didn’t stop there. Other users confirmed that Kaspersky had disappeared from their computers and these two programs had appeared. Although some hadn’t heard of the change, other users received a notification from Kaspersky in an email informing them that the security suite would now be UltraAV.
This change comes after the US banned the sale of Kaspersky products in the country due to its alleged ties to the Russian government. That’s why the company had to sign an agreement with Pango to offer this alternative to its customers.
The change is now effective for its US customers as they officially announced. Although they defend that they notified their customers, there are many who either didn’t receive this notification or don’t remember seeing it.
Users specifically criticize the fact that this change was made to another program, which was rated as of lower quality, without the explicit consent of the user. But what is really striking is that the company has the ability to uninstall one program and install another on users’ computers overnight.