DHS: Russian-Owned Company Poses Risk to Federal IT
The Trump administration is ordering U.S. federal executive branch agencies to remove anti-virus software from Russian-owned Kaspersky Lab from their computers within 90 days
The Department of Homeland Security, in a statement issued Wednesday, says Kaspersky security products pose a risk to federal information systems because they provide broad access to files and elevated privileges on the computers where they're installed that could be exploited by malicious cyber actors to compromise those IT systems.
"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," the DHS statement says. "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."
The company's founder, Eugene Kaspersky, has worked for the Russian military and was educated at a KGB-sponsored technical college.
https://www.govinfosecurity.com/kaspersky-...
Posted By: Steve Williams
Saturday, September 16th 2017 at 4:06PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
