U.S Bans Kaspersky Software For Links To Russia

Kaspersky Labs, the Russian cyber security software manufacturer, has been banned in the United States from developing software due to its alleged ties with Kremlin and its intelligence agency FSB.

A couple of weeks ago it was reported that U.S’ Senate Armed Services Committee wants a ban on Kaspersky’s products so that the U.S Defense Department cannot use them. Now, the General Services Administration has told AFP that Kaspersky Labs has been removed from their list of the approved software vendor.

According to the Administration’s statement, “GSA’s priorities are to ensure the integrity and security of US government systems and networks and evaluate products and services available on our contracts using supply chain risk management processes.”  

Previously, Jeanne Shaheen, the Democratic Senator alleged Kaspersky of having “surprisingly strong ties” with Kremlin. Therefore, Shaheen amended the defense bill to include the ban on Kaspersky.

In reply, Eugene Kaspersky, the CEO of Kaspersky Labs, denied all allegations and offered to share the source code of the software that his company develops. He also suggested the authorities to audit his Kaspersky security products.

However, the US-based Bloomberg News claimed to have obtained internal email communication between the security giant and FSB. The report alleged Kaspersky Labs of developing security products for Russia’s intelligence agency.

Kaspersky Labs rejected Bloomberg’s report and called it “misinterpreted or manipulated.”

“The communication was misinterpreted or manipulated to try to make the media outlet’s narrative work. Kaspersky Lab is very public about the fact that it assists law enforcement agencies around the world with fighting cyber-threats, including those in Russia, by providing cyber-security expertise on malware and cyber-attacks.”

“Kaspersky Lab is very public about the fact that it assists law enforcement agencies around the world with fighting cyber threats, including those in Russia, by providing cyber security expertise on malware and cyber attacks,” the firm said.

“Kaspersky Lab assists law enforcement agencies around the world with fighting cyber threats, including those in Russia, by providing cyber security expertise on malware and cyber attacks. When assisting in official Russian cybercrime investigations, in accordance with Russian law, we only provide technical expertise throughout the investigation to help them catch cyber criminals.

Concerning raids and physically catching cyber criminals, Kaspersky Lab might ride along to examine any digital evidence found, but that is the extent of our participation, as we do not track hackers’ locations. Kaspersky Lab doesn’t provide any government agencies, nor other parties, with information on the location of people and doesn’t gather “identifying data from customers’ computers” because it is technically impossible.”

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