The government of United States has put a ban on federal agencies for using a Russian brand of security software amid fears the company has tied to state-sponsored cyber-espionage activities.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke has ordered to at least six federal civilian agencies to identify Kaspersky Lab software in their system and networks and ordered to come up with a solution and plan to uninstall it and find a replacement within 3 months unless as directed they must have to remove the software, the progress comes along with parallel inquiries by Congress and the FBI under Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller.
According to United States officials, Miss Duke considers the relation of the company with the Russian government masquerades a threat to the security of U.S government and they are not authorized to talk on this matter publicly, the Kremlin could access to federal information through a wormhole or a backdoor.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement supporting its directive that;
“It was afraid about the ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence and other government agencies, and requirements under Russian law that allows Russian intelligence agencies to request or compel assistance from Kaspersky and to intercept 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.” They added.
The department said they would provide an opportunity to submit a written response to answer the allegations in it’s defending to Kaspersky. The agency said other units stating commercial interests affected by the directive could also submit information
- David Edelman,who is a heading a cyber-security project at MIT’s Internet Policy Research Initiative and also Centre for International Studies, toldThe Independent that
“The move signals “the idea that we’re in a chilly period for U.S.-Russia relations, especially on cyber-security matters.”
Mr. Edelman sorts out that the General Services Administration is an independent federal agency that chore with dealing the basic roles of government, had taken Kaspersky Lab software off its standard and approved vendor and procurement list back in July 2017.
Kaspersky further stated to The Independent that it hasn’t tied to the Russian government.
“No credible proof has been opened publicly by anyone or any organization as the allegations are baseless and are on false accusations and inaccurate assumptions, including claims about the impact of Russian regulations and policies on the company,” the company said.
Kaspersky pointed out that 85 per cent of its revenue and profit comes from outside of Russia, which clearly makes obvious that working incongruously with any government would be unfavorable to the company’s bottom line.
The company hasn’t responded to questions concerning how much of its business comes from the US federal and various US state governments.
Mr. Edelman said that;
“There is ‘potential fall out’ from DHS decision from the private sector as well as US authorities.”
He added, “If cooperating with governments is a dangerous business, wouldn’t it also embolden companies to resist overtures from U.S. authorities as well?”
The DHS directive also sturdily insists on state governments to stop using the software but the decision whether to continue to use it or rashly ends contracts; it all will be dependent on the state government’s decision.
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