Kaspersky Lab Antivirus Software Is Ordered Off U.S. Government Computers<br />Best Buy, the electronics giant, announced last week<br />that it was pulling Kaspersky Lab’s cybersecurity products from its shelves and website, and the Senate is voting this week on a defense-spending bill that would ban Kaspersky Lab products from being used by American government agencies, effectively codifying Wednesday’s directive into law.<br />B.I., aided by American spies, has for years been trying to determine whether Kaspersky’s senior executives are working with Russian military<br />and intelligence, according to current and former American officials.<br />WASHINGTON — The federal government moved on Wednesday to wipe from its computer systems any software made<br />by a prominent Russian cybersecurity firm, Kaspersky Lab, that is being investigated by the F. B.I.<br />Wednesday’s announcement is the latest instance of the apparent disconnect between the Trump White House, which has often downplayed the threat of Russian interference to the country’s infrastructure,<br />and front-line American law enforcement and intelligence officials, who are engaged in a perpetual shadow war against Moscow-directed operatives.<br />Federal officials have warned private companies to avoid Kaspersky software,<br />and earlier this year the firm was removed from two lists of approved vendors used by government agencies to purchase technology<br />Kaspersky is considered one of the foremost cybersecurity research firms in the world,<br />and has considerable expertise in designing antivirus software and tools to uncover spyware used by Western intelligence services.<br />has also been investigating whether Kaspersky software, including its well-regarded antivirus programs, contain back doors<br />that could allow Russian intelligence access into computers on which it is running.
