There are slews of articles and warnings.Β See below.Β
Not clear if using Russian and Chinese software poses a security risk on personal computers.Β Β But all of the programs have alternatives -- why take a risk?
Here are a few popular programs used in personal computers:
China
Zoom - based in California and run by a Chinese CEO.Β They have close connections with three Chinese companies and have admitted "mistakenly" sending information via China and removing "sensitive" topics such as Tiananmen, Hong Kong democracy, etc.Β Try Google's GOTO Meeting instead.
Wise - a Chinese company which offers several excellent and free PC cleaning and utility programs.Β I suggest using Glary Utilities instead.
TikTok - a Chinese company which provides a popular platform for short video clips.
Russia
Kaspersky Antivirus - use Avast Antivirus instead.
Acronis TrueImage / Acronis Backup - try Cobian Gravity or Macrium Reflect.
ABBYY FineReader - an OCR program.Β TryΒ FreeOCR or Readiris.
Sources:
Reuters:Β Β Exclusive: U.S. opens national security investigation into TikTok - sources
Japan Times:Β βWhoβs Zoominβ Who?β is now an ominous question
Telecoms:Β Β Zoom security flaws and Chinese links make US authorities nervous
MarketWatch: Β FBI warns FaceApp, other Russian software could put private data at risk
See my own Janglo CompuTip:Β Β Kaspersky - Is it Safe? The Israel Angle J-099.
Be Well,
Ami Raz - Computer Solutions
Email meΒ toΒ helpΒ IBMΒ cureΒ coronavirus
Cell:Β (054-4373936)Β Tel: (02) 648-2505Β
Email:Β [email protected]
Teaching,Β Fixing, andΒ SellingComputersΒ Since 1985Β
