A US government decision to stop using software from Kaspersky Lab undermines fair competition, said Russia.
The Kremlin statement came in response to a 90-day deadline given to US federal agencies to remove the security software.
The US Department of Homeland Security said it was concerned about ties between company officials and the Russian intelligence services. Kaspersky Lab has repeatedly denied that it has ties to the Kremlin.
Kaspersky later issued a statement which stated, “Given that Kaspersky Lab doesn’t have inappropriate ties with any government, the company is disappointed with the decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but also is grateful for the opportunity to provide additional information to the agency in order to confirm that these allegations are completely unfounded. No credible evidence has been presented publicly by anyone or any organization as the accusations are based on false allegations and inaccurate assumptions, including claims about the impact of Russian regulations and policies on the company. Kaspersky Lab provides appropriate products and services to governments around the world to protect those organizations from cyberthreats, but it does not have unethical ties or affiliations with any government, including Russia.”
The company has clarified that it has never helped, nor will help, any government in the world with its cyberespionage or offensive cyber efforts, and it’s disconcerting that a private company can be considered guilty until proven innocent, due to geopolitical issues.
The directive, issued by acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, says the department is concerned about the ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence and other government agencies.
“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,” said Duke.
Eugene Kaspersky, the CEO of the company has been invited to appear before Congress on September 27 to address the accusations. US government and private-sector cyber experts have also been invited to appear. The CEO has accepted that invitation, but he says he needs an expedited visa first.
There have been concerns about Kaspersky for some time in America, but those suspicions escalated when it was determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election using cyber means.
