Citing Russian Ties, Homeland Security Boots Kaspersky Software From Government Agencies


Source: Gizmodo


 
American government agencies are now banned from using software created by the Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab and will have to begin removing Kaspersky products from their systems within three months, the Department of Homeland Security announced today.

The company has faced rumors that it could be coerced into sharing information with the Russian government for some time, but those allegations have garnered more attention as Washington reacts to the mounting evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

“The Department is concerned about the ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence and other government agencies, and requirements under Russian law that allow Russian intelligence agencies to request or compel assistance from Kaspersky and to intercept communications transiting Russian networks,” a DHS spokesperson 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 U.S. national security.”




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LINK:
http://gizmodo.com/citing-russian-ties-homeland-security-boots-kaspersky-1807474114