Trump administration limits government
use of Kaspersky Lab software
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[July 12, 2017]
By Dustin Volz
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump
administration on Tuesday removed Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab from two
lists of approved vendors used by government agencies to purchase
technology equipment, amid concerns the cyber security firm's products
could be used by the Kremlin to gain entry into U.S. networks.
The delisting represents the most concrete action taken against
Kaspersky following months of mounting suspicion among intelligence
officials and lawmakers that the company may be too closely connected to
hostile Russian intelligence agencies accused of cyber attacks on the
United States.
Kaspersky products have been removed from the U.S. General Services
Administration's list of vendors for contracts that cover information
technology services and digital photographic equipment, an agency
spokeswoman said in a statement.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jul/12/images/ads/current/Lincoln-Heating-sda-fair-2015.png)
The action was taken "after review and careful consideration," the
spokeswoman said, adding that GSA's priorities "are to ensure the
integrity and security of U.S. government systems and networks."
Government agencies will still be able to use Kaspersky products
purchased separate from the GSA contract process.
Kaspersky's anti-virus software is popular in the United States and
around the world, and the firm has been a leading player in the cyber
security market for decades.
In a statement, Kaspersky Lab said it had not received any updates from
GSA or any other U.S. government agency regarding its vendor status.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jul/12/images/ads/current/ldn_We_are2_sda.png)
“Kaspersky Lab has no ties to any government, and the company has never
helped, nor will help, any government in the world with its
cyberespionage efforts," the company said.
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![](../images/071217pics/news_z47.jpg)
Employees work at the headquarters of Kaspersky Labs, a company
which specialises in the production of antivirus and internet
security software, in Moscow July 29, 2013. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin
![](../images/ads/current/richardson_lda_060817.png)
It added that it had been "caught in the middle of a geopolitical fight
where each side is attempting to use the company as a pawn in their
political game."
The delisting was done the same day that ABC News reported the Trump
administration was considering implementing a broader ban that would
block agencies from using Kaspersky software.
Last month the Senate Armed Services Committee passed a defense spending
policy bill that would ban Kaspersky products from use in the military.
The move came a day after the FBI interviewed several of the company's
U.S. employees at their private homes as part of a counterintelligence
investigation into its operations.
In May senior U.S. intelligence officials said in testimony before the
Senate Intelligence Committee that they were reviewing government use of
software from Kaspersky Lab.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jul/12/images/ads/current/treubody_sda_RELAY2017.png)
Lawmakers raised concerns that Moscow might use the firm's products to
attack American computer networks, a particularly sensitive issue given
allegations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia hacked and leaked
emails of Democratic Party political groups to interfere in the 2016
presidential election campaign. Russia denies the allegations.
(Reporting by Dustin Volz; Editing by Bill Trott)
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