US security services have concluded that the Kaspersky Laboratory develops viruses for Russian intelligence. The USA declared the Kaspersky anti-virus a threat to national security, and banned all state institutions from using it.
The authorities gave only 3 months for entities to get rid of the program. Our correspondent in the US, Alexander Khristenko, has the details of the computer sanctions implications. Kaspersky Lab Anti-Virus, which fights against computer malware all over the world is, in fact, declared a malicious program in the USA. The US Department of Homeland Security issued an order to all state entities to stop using and to remove Kaspersky products within 3 months.
The reason is that the anti-virus is suspected of possibly being connected with Russian intelligence. The Homeland Security statement talks about risks to US national security. The laboratory denies the allegations. No credible evidence has been presented publicly by anyone or any organization, as the accusations are based on false allegations and inaccurate assumptions.
Kaspersky Lab has never helped any government in the world with its cyberespionage. It’s disconcerting that a private company can be considered guilty until proven innocent, due to geopolitical issues. In June, FBI agents came to Kaspersky Lab US employees' homes and grilled them about any links with the Russian government.
The outcome of the investigation is unclear, but the pressure on the Russian company has been growing. A few days ago, even before the decision of the US department, the anti-virus was removed by a large American retailer, Best Buy. Evidence hasn't been seen by anyone. Unlike Snowden, who provided evidence that such giants like Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook (запрещена в РФ) worked closely with the government and the NSA, that is, US intelligence.
According to Forbes, Kaspersky accounts for 20% of the US cyber defense market. And the US competitors will certainly benefit from the prohibitive decision by the authorities. The US Department of Homeland Security says that Kaspersky products represent a threat to security. That's "market" competition for you in 3 lines.
The world-renowned laboratory with 400 million clients on all continents intends to prove its innocence. The founder, Evgeny Kaspersky, repeatedly reiterated that the company wouldn't participate in cyber attacks of any country.
"We are on the side of good, and will never go to the dark side," said the businessman, Evgeny Kaspersky. Now another victim of the American spy mania and witch hunts are those who have been fighting against computer evil globally for the last 20 years. Alexander Khristenko, Nikolai Koskin, Elena Sokolova for Vesti from USA.
