Trump bans govt use of Kaspersky software
14 Sept 2017 9:55 PM IST
Washington: The US government banned the use of Kaspersky security software in federal offices on Thursday, 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. She also expressed concern that Russian intelligence agencies can by law request or compel assistance from Kaspersky, including in intercepting communications transiting Russian networks.
"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. A US government decision to stop using security software from Kaspersky Lab is "regrettable", the Kremlin said.
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