Antivirus maker Kasperky, added to the list of threats to US national security

As if the association between the specifics of a cybersecurity company and Russia were not enough, the US authorities added Kaspersky Lab to the list of threats to the national security of the USA, thus dynamizing the international credibility of the antivirus manufacturer.

According to the US Federal Communications Commission, Kaspersky poses “an unacceptable risk to US national security.” However, apart from the political criteria, the US authorities do not offer too many arguments for placing the Russian company on the same list as Huawei and ZTE. What is certain is that the decision prohibits US economic factors from using federal subsidies provided by the FCC Universal Service Fund to purchase any products or services from listed companies. In addition to Kaspersky, the FCC added China Telecom and China Mobile International USA to its list on Friday.

“I am pleased that our national security agencies have agreed with my assessment that China Mobile and China Telecom appear to be meeting the threshold for adding these entities to our list,” FCC President Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. of press. “Adding them, as well as Kaspersky Labs, will help secure our networks from the threats posed by Chinese and Russian state-backed entities trying to engage in espionage and otherwise harm America’s interests.”

Kaspersky officials responded to the FCC’s decision in a press release on the company’s website, calling the measure “politically motivated” in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, the company reaffirms its openness to “cooperate with US government agencies to address the FCC issue.” and the concerns of any other regulatory agency. “

However, the preventive measures taken by the Americans are not completely unfounded. In 2017, the Russian secret services allegedly used Kaspersky antivirus software to steal classified documents from the National Security Agency (NSA), allegations denied by the Moscow-based company. Later that year, former President Donald Trump signed a bill banning the use of Kaspersky products by federal agencies after he accused the company of having links to the Kremlin.