Eugene Kaspersky's son missing, reported kidnapped

The 20-year-old son of Kaspersky Labs founder Eugene Kaspersky was reportedly kidnapped
The 20-year-old son of Kaspersky Labs founder Eugene Kaspersky was reportedly kidnapped

According to Russian newswires ABC, and the BBC, Russian police and secret service agents have been searching for Ivan Kaspersky since he went missing on his way into work.

The Itar-Tass newswire says that Ivan Kaspersky, who is in his fourth year at Moscow State University, went missing on Tuesday and may have been kidnapped.

The Kommersant newspaper, meanwhile, suggests that his kidnappers are asking a ransom of three million euros for his safe return.

Understandably, Eugene Kaspersky has reportedly refused to make any comment to the media.

Kommersant has quoted police and security experts in the fight against kidnapping as saying "they hope media coverage of the incident may force kidnappers to free the boy as it happened with the 17-year old son of Rosneft Vice President Mikhail Stavsky in 2009."

Stavsky Junior was kidnapped on orders of North Caucasus terrorist warlord Said Buryatsky and was released after the incident was widely covered by media.

Kaspersky Lab is a Russian-headquartered IT security vendor that was founded back in 1997, since when it has grown significantly and was rated in 2008 by IDC as the fourth-largest global anti-virus vendor.

Company officials have stated their intention to be number one in Europe within the next two years.

More than 120 third-party vendors use or license the Kaspersky IT security platform.

What’s hot on Infosecurity Magazine?