The Russian cybersecurity and anti-virus provider, Kaspersky Lab, has been found to be involved in the development of reconnaissance and strike drones used by the Russian army in their conflict with Ukraine. This information was reported by the InformNapalm project, which conducted an investigation and seized secret data from the Russian company, Albatross.
From the seized database, it was discovered that Kaspersky Lab worked closely with Albatross in creating drones. The company helped develop hardware and software solutions, including a neural network for unmanned systems. The collaboration resulted in the integration of a “machine vision” system, using the neural network, into the Albatross M5 reconnaissance drone.
These drones have been actively used in Ukraine since the spring of 2022, primarily by units of the Russian Special Operations Forces and FSB Special Forces. Despite Kaspersky Lab’s claim that their activities are limited to civilian use, evidence suggests the flow of their technologies from the civilian sector to the military. As of April 2024, Kaspersky Lab has managed to evade significant international sanctions, although some countries, such as Ukraine and Poland, have imposed restrictions on the company.
ملخص الأخبار
- The Ukrainian “CyberResistance” activists, in collaboration with InformNapalm, seized over 100 GB of secret data from the Russian company “Albatross,” revealing close ties with Kaspersky Lab.
- Kaspersky Lab assisted in developing a neural network for drones, integrating a “machine vision” system into the Albatross M5 reconnaissance drone used in Ukraine since 2022.
- Despite claims of civilian product development only, evidence suggests a transfer of Kaspersky Lab technologies to military applications, with the company avoiding significant international sanctions as of April 2024.
