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US security chiefs target Russian antivirus company

An employee works at the Moscow headquarters of Kaspersky Labs, which specializes in antivirus and internet security software.

Six intelligence officials express 'concern' over Moscow-based internet security firm Kaspersky Labs.

Top US intelligence chiefs on Thursday publicly expressed doubts about the global cyber-security firm Kaspersky Labs because of its roots in Russia.   

Six leading intelligence officials told a Senate hearing on external threats to the United States of their concerns over the firm's broad presence, without specifying any particular threat.    

Asked if he was aware of a security threat tied to Kaspersky software, Federal Bureau of Investigation acting director Andrew McCabe replied: "We are very concerned about it and we are focused on it very closely."    

Defense Intelligence Agency director Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart said his agency is avoiding the company's products.    

"There is, as well as I know, no Kaspersky software on our networks," he said, adding that the agency's private sector contractors are also steering clear. 

The allegations against Kaspersky come amid heightened US concerns over Russian hacking after what intelligence chiefs say was a significant effort directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to interfere with last year's election.    

President Donald Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn is under investigation for his links to Russia, which include being paid $11,250 to speak at a Kaspersky function.

Also indicating their concerns, in brief, were the heads of the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the director of National Intelligence.    

"I am personally aware and involved as director of the National Security Agency in the Kaspersky Lab issue," NSA head Mike Rogers said.  

Kaspersky was founded in Moscow in 1997 by Eugene Kaspersky, a computer engineer who served in the Russian military.    

The company quickly expanded to a global presence, with 3,600 employees, 400 million users of its software, and revenue of some $620m in 2015, according to its website.     

Details By

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/security-chiefs-target-russian-antivirus-company-170512024434311.html