I have been able to solve the issues I was having regarding installing
Kaspersky 2017 and I plan to write a more detailed blog post about this
later on today if I can both find and make the time to do it. In short,
here's a summary of the problem and how I solved it, if you could call
it a solution.
A year ago, I started out using Kaspersky 2015 after using Microsoft
Security Essentials for over five years, as I was not satisfied with the
level of protection offered by MSE. The installer for Kaspersky 2015 was
100% accessible, being rendered just as though I had visited a Web page.
Informational text and controls were also nicely labeled and installing
it was both quick and 100% screen reader friendly.
The installer for Kaspersky Antivirus 2016 was completely inaccessible
to screen readers. Wheter I used arrow keys, screen review commands or
review commands no text was visible to NVDA. However, I was still able
to install the 2016 version using the 2015 installer, because the
installer presents a check box, which you would check if you want the
program to automatically install newer versions of the software. This
meant that I could run the nicely accessible 2015 installer and have it
install the 2016 version.
A few weeks ago, I saw that Kaspersky Antivirus 2017 was available. I
downloaded the 2017 installer, ran it and saw that it was just as
inaccessible as the 2016 installer. No problem, I thought. I'll just run
the 2015 installer, have it download the newest version and I'll have
the 2017 installer with no drama.
This, unfortunately, was not to be. First, when I ran the 2015 installer
it told me that the installer could not complete because one of the
program folders was not empty. I was a bit flabbergasted, since I
assumed that the program would just upgrade my current version but I
guess the 2015 installer doesn't know how to deal with an installed 2016
version. No problem, I thought, I'll just uninstall the program but I
ran into an error doing that and I can't now remember what the message
was. No problem, I thought again, I'll just clear out the folder which
should make it happy and avoid further drama.
However, Windows wouldn't allow me to do that, even with admin rights.
No problem, I thought, I'll just look for the Kaspersky removal tool. I
found it, downloaded it and ran it. The good news was that the program
had accessible keyboard controls. Bad news was that it had a captcha. I
sent a few tweets about this to Kaspersky Support and asked if one of
their reps could do a remote session where they could access my computer
and install the software. They sent me some direct messages, indicating
that this could be done. However, when I called them they said that
remote access was a premium support service and that I needed to pay for
it. I told them that it was not right that I should have to pay for
remote support, considering that I can't even install their software
independently and can't even remove the current version due to a
captcha. I finally got disgusted, disconnected the call and called the
Microsoft disability answer desk. Within ten minutes the rep had entered
the captcha solution, removed the old version and even guided me through
installing the 2017 version with the inaccessible 2017 installer.
Needless to say, while I eventually solved my problem I did so with
absolutely no help from Kaspersky, who should have come through for me
but failed miserably to do so.
If anyone is considering installing this software, you might want to
save time by just asking Microsoft for help. You might also want to
tweet Kaspersky at
@kl_support to express your opinions.
David Goldfield,
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info
On 10/8/2016 10:16 AM, David Goldfield wrote:
Hi. I'm currently using Kaspersky Antivirus 2016. While their are some
accessibility issues, I'm able to get around most of them and most of
the settings present accessible controls. I'm wondering if anyone has
used Kaspersky 2017 and how different it is, from a screen reader user's
perspective, from 2016. Any comments would be helpful.
I'm aware that the 2016 and 2017 installers aren't accessible and I have
alerted Kaspersky Labs about this via Twitter.
