The state antivirus service "Multiscanner," developed by the "National Technological Center for Digital Cryptography," has ceased its operation due to lack of funding. This became known from a message on the official website of the service.
The project was launched in 2017 as part of the national program "Digital Economy." Its stated goal was to create a free analogue of the well-known VirusTotal service, which analyzes suspicious files and links for malware.
Despite the initial plans, the project's funding turned out to be insufficient. In 2019, it was planned to allocate 90 million rubles from the federal budget until 2024. These funds were not used properly.
Since its launch, "Multiscanner" has gone through several stages of development. Initially, its creation was initiated by the organization "Fincert," and then the project was transferred to the Federal Security Service. In 2024, the service was relaunched under the management of the ANO "National Technological Center for Digital Cryptography," but, as time has shown, this did not save it from closure.
Experts point to several reasons that led to the closure of the service. Firstly, the high cost of its maintenance and development. This includes integration with state systems and regular updating of antivirus engines, which requires significant costs. Secondly, organizational difficulties, such as delays in launch and changes in responsible organizations, also played a role.
The closure of "Multiscanner" raises concerns among cybersecurity specialists. They warn that such online services can become a source of confidential information leaks. For example, data uploaded to such "sandboxes" may become available not only to ordinary users but also to attackers, which increases the risk of cyberattacks.
Experts emphasize the importance of state support for initiatives aimed at improving the level of cybersecurity. Successful examples, such as the implementation of the "Antifraud" system, show that competent management of national IT projects can lead to positive results. However, without proper funding and organization, even critically important initiatives can be unsuccessful.
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