Kaspersky Lab Antivirus Software Is Ordered Off U.S. Government Computers
Best Buy, the electronics giant, announced last week
that it was pulling Kaspersky Lab’s cybersecurity products from its shelves and website, and the Senate is voting this week on a defense-spending bill that would ban Kaspersky Lab products from being used by American government agencies, effectively codifying Wednesday’s directive into law.
B.I., aided by American spies, has for years been trying to determine whether Kaspersky’s senior executives are working with Russian military
and intelligence, according to current and former American officials.
WASHINGTON — The federal government moved on Wednesday to wipe from its computer systems any software made
by a prominent Russian cybersecurity firm, Kaspersky Lab, that is being investigated by the F. B.I.
Wednesday’s announcement is the latest instance of the apparent disconnect between the Trump White House, which has often downplayed the threat of Russian interference to the country’s infrastructure,
and front-line American law enforcement and intelligence officials, who are engaged in a perpetual shadow war against Moscow-directed operatives.
Federal officials have warned private companies to avoid Kaspersky software,
and earlier this year the firm was removed from two lists of approved vendors used by government agencies to purchase technology
Kaspersky is considered one of the foremost cybersecurity research firms in the world,
and has considerable expertise in designing antivirus software and tools to uncover spyware used by Western intelligence services.
has also been investigating whether Kaspersky software, including its well-regarded antivirus programs, contain back doors
that could allow Russian intelligence access into computers on which it is running.