As reported last week by Infosecurity, Ivan Kaspersky was apparently kidnapped by criminals last Tuesday on his way into work at InfoWatch, an IT company run by his mother.
Reports in the Russian media have suggested that Kaspersky senior had been asking the media to remain quiet on the subject, although this appears to have fallen on deaf ears, given his high profile as an IT entrepreneur in his home country.
Over the weekend, the Boston Business Journal said that Life News, a Russian language website – which had originally reported on the kidnapping and a ransom demand of 3 million euros – is now quoting "numerous sources" as saying that the 20-year-old is now safe and back home.
The BBC, meanwhile, reported that five people have been arrested in the Moscow area, but have yet to be charged.
"Russian media say officers posing as middlemen lured the kidnappers to a meeting with the promise of a ransom", said the BBC, adding that one of the five arrested is a former convict.