10-25-2017 , 09:57 PM
Quote:An investigation into the cybersecurity company's ties to the Russian government raises many questions and answers few. Here's what we know so far.
The US government and one of the most popular and well-reviewed antivirus software companies are going through a messy breakup.
There were happier times. Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab has been a top cybersecurity company with government contracts around the world, including the US. As recently as September, the company's software was one of the highest-rated virus protections, with 400 million users worldwide, according to the company.
Then came allegations of the company's ties to the Russian government. The US House Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a hearing Wednesday into the risks that Kaspersky Lab products may pose for the US.
It's the latest outgrowth of the increased attention on Russian hacking, a national security issue that has prompted lawmakers to look into potential threats to systems like our electrical power grid and electoral process.
Confused and nervous about software you may be running on your computer? Read on.
Why does the US government have an issue with Kaspersky?
The government worries Kaspersky Lab has ties to the Russian government.
The allegations, which have cropped up over the last several months, range from Kaspersky working with the Russian government to Kremlin spies hacking the antivirus software and using it without the company knowing.
A Bloomberg article in July said internal emails showed Kaspersky Lab was working closely with Russia's FSB, the country's equivalent to the FBI. This came a month after FBI agents visited Kaspersky employees in the US, questioning the company's motives.
"The case against Kaspersky Lab is overwhelming," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, said in a statement. "The strong ties between Kaspersky Lab and the Kremlin are alarming and well-documented."
What has the US government done?
In September, the Senate passed a bill banning Kaspersky software from all federal computers as part of the annual defense budget.
On Sept. 13, the Department of Homeland Security ordered all federal agencies to remove Kaspersky software from their computer systems.
Stores like Best Buy, Office Depot and Staples followed suit and removed Kaspersky's software from their shelves. The company's founder, Eugene Kaspersky, on multiple occasions has denied any connections to the Russian government, but Capitol Hill doesn't seem to be buying it.
Read the full article here:
https://www.cnet.com/news/kaspersky-lab-...urity-faq/