Russia may soon ban SpeedTest, a popular internet speed testing tool, over concerns about data sharing with foreign intelligence agencies.
According to a report from the International Academy of Communications, the State Duma and the Federal Security Service (FSB) support a proposal to replace SpeedTest with Russian-made alternatives.
Experts warn that using foreign tools such as SpeedTest increases the risk of cyberattacks.
Apparently, in Russia, it's not just the speed of the internet that causes concern—it's also the possibility that someone knows how quickly you're browsing cat videos.
The proposal to prohibit Russian operators from using the US-based SpeedTest, owned by Ookla, has gained traction in government circles.
The State Duma and FSB agreed with the IAC's initiative, urging internet service providers to use Russian-developed software to measure network speeds.
SpeedTest allows the collection of information about communication networks, which foreign intelligence agencies could exploit for cyberattacks,” wrote IAC president Anastasia Ositis in a letter to the Duma.
Russia is concerned about allegations that Ookla shares detailed network data, such as configurations and communication system equipment, with US intelligence.
Sergey Melnik, an academic at IAC, emphasized the risk of this data being used in targeted Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.
“This situation mirrors the control SWIFT has over the financial sector,” he said, drawing parallels to previous cybersecurity flaws.
Implementing a ban on SpeedTest would require removing Ookla's software from Russian networks, which Melnik admits could be difficult.
However, he believes that Russian alternatives, such as Linkmeter, could bridge the gap.
“After the removal of SpeedTest, measuring internet speed with foreign tools will become irrelevant,” Melnik told me.
Not everyone is on board, however. MegaFon, one of Russia's largest telecom companies, stated that it was unaware of the IAC proposal.
A spokesperson also stated that, while SpeedTest is the most popular tool among users, it is not the only one available in Russia.
Other Russian telecom operators declined to comment on the matter, most likely because they were updating their “How to Keep Your Data Safe” brochures.
Leonid Konik, a telecom expert at Comnews Research, emphasized SpeedTest's global reach, noting that it uses over 16,000 servers worldwide.
This extensive infrastructure enables the service to provide accurate and comparable results, making it the preferred platform for both users and providers.
“SpeedTest handles millions of measurements daily, with over 57 billion tests conducted since 2006,” Konik said, emphasizing the program's widespread use.
However, switching to Russian alternatives does not necessarily eliminate security risks.
Denis Kuskov, CEO of TelecomDaily, has warned that other foreign measurement services may collect even more user data than SpeedTest.
“Some of these services likely transmit more information to foreign servers than stated in their user agreements,” he told me.
Despite growing support for a SpeedTest ban, no formal legislation is in place to enforce the switch to Russian software.
Telecom providers may continue to use SpeedTest until they are forced to remove it.
Nonetheless, market participants believe that Russia has enough domestic options, such as Rostelecom's QMS and TelecomDaily's Megabitus, to ensure a smooth transition.
Vladimir Zykov, director of the Association of Professional Users of Social Networks and Messengers, added that a complete ban on SpeedTest would not prevent Russians from using similar services.
“Many foreign and domestic tools still offer this functionality, so it won't be a major issue for subscribers,” he predicted.
After the United States banned Russia's Kaspersky from all citizens' computers, has Russia responded by banning SpeedTest?
Not the craziest we've heard: a Belarusian minister once claimed that Pokemon Go is a spy tool used by the US government.