Russia is considering a ban on the use of the American internet speed measurement service SpeedTest. The State Duma and the FSB supported the proposal of the International Academy of Communications (IAC), according to which operators should switch to domestic programs for testing internet connections. Experts point out that Ookla, the company that owns SpeedTest, transmits data about telecommunication networks to foreign intelligence services, which creates a risk of cyberattacks.
Systems like SpeedTest can collect data on network configuration, bandwidth, and their load, which could potentially be used to organize attacks, such as DDoS. Despite the technical difficulty of blocking the service, it is proposed to remove it from the information systems of Russian telecom operators and replace it with domestic counterparts, such as "Linkmeter" or other solutions.
Representatives of the telecommunications industry note that SpeedTest is the most popular service, but emphasize that there are many alternatives, including domestic developments. Operators such as Megafon and Rostelecom have their own products that can replace foreign counterparts.
The use of foreign testing services has raised concerns about cybersecurity. Experts believe that such services may raise additional questions from government agencies in the future.
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