WASHINGTON: The US government banned the use of Kaspersky security software
in federal offices Wednesday, saying the Russian company has risky ties
to Russian intelligence that threaten US national security.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke ordered all government offices to remove and replace any of the company's popular anti-hacker software in use within 90 days.
"The department is concerned about the ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence and other government agencies," Duke said in a statement.
"The risk that the Russian government, whether acting on its own or in collaboration with Kaspersky, could capitalize on access provided by Kaspersky products to compromise federal information and information systems directly implicates US national security," Duke said.
The move comes amid heightened strains between Russia and the US over Moscow's alleged interference in last year's US presidential election.
Kaspersky was already finding the government shut to its business, according to US companies it competes with.
Earlier this year six top intelligence and security officials told a Congressional hearing that they would not use Kaspersky software.
In July the government's General Services Administration issued an advisory against using it.
Last week Senator Jeanne Shaheen said she would attach to a crucial defense department appropriations bill a law banning government use of Kaspersky products.
Based in Moscow, Kaspersky has been selling its popular and highly regarded software around the world for two decade and does 85% of its business outside of Russia, including with multiple governments, according to the company.
It has repeatedly denied having anything more than correct business ties to the Kremlin, saying it is "caught in the middle of a geopolitical fight."
It said it was not a telecoms provider and so not subject to the Russian laws Duke referred to on cooperation with the government.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke ordered all government offices to remove and replace any of the company's popular anti-hacker software in use within 90 days.
"The department is concerned about the ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence and other government agencies," Duke said in a statement.
"The risk that the Russian government, whether acting on its own or in collaboration with Kaspersky, could capitalize on access provided by Kaspersky products to compromise federal information and information systems directly implicates US national security," Duke said.
The move comes amid heightened strains between Russia and the US over Moscow's alleged interference in last year's US presidential election.
Kaspersky was already finding the government shut to its business, according to US companies it competes with.
Earlier this year six top intelligence and security officials told a Congressional hearing that they would not use Kaspersky software.
In July the government's General Services Administration issued an advisory against using it.
Last week Senator Jeanne Shaheen said she would attach to a crucial defense department appropriations bill a law banning government use of Kaspersky products.
Based in Moscow, Kaspersky has been selling its popular and highly regarded software around the world for two decade and does 85% of its business outside of Russia, including with multiple governments, according to the company.
It has repeatedly denied having anything more than correct business ties to the Kremlin, saying it is "caught in the middle of a geopolitical fight."
It said it was not a telecoms provider and so not subject to the Russian laws Duke referred to on cooperation with the government.
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