On the past Monday, Canada announced a ban on the use of apps from Tencent and Kaspersky on government devices, citing privacy and security risks that Canada cannot tolerate.
The Canadian government is determined to safeguard the data and network of its government, as well as monitor and promptly address recurring threats. Therefore, the WeChat and Kaspersky applications have been removed from government mobile devices effective October 30, 2023. Users of Canadian government devices are blocked from downloading these apps.
Anita Anand, Chair of the Treasury Board, stated that the government is employing a risk-based approach to cybersecurity by removing access to these applications and emphasizing that these apps seek excessive access to device content.
Kaspersky, the Russian cyber-security system provider, argues that the ban appears to be politically motivated and does not agree with the actions taken by the Canadian government. They perceive it as a political response rather than an evaluation of the security of Kaspersky’s products and services.
TLDR: Canada has banned the use of Tencent and Kaspersky apps on government devices due to privacy and security risks. WeChat and Kaspersky apps have been removed from Canadian government mobile devices, effective October 30, 2023. The measures aim to safeguard government data and networks while addressing recurring threats. Kaspersky believes the ban is politically motivated rather than a true assessment of their security offerings.
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