Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Officials Fear Russia Could Try To Target United States Through Kaspersky AV (go.com)

Posted by msmash on from the growing-fear dept.

Russia's growing aggression toward the United States has deepened concerns among U.S. officials that Russian spies might try to exploit one of the world's most respected cybersecurity firms to snoop on Americans or sabotage key U.S. systems, according to an ABC News investigation. From the report: Products from the company, Kaspersky Lab, based in Moscow, are widely used in homes, businesses and government agencies throughout the United States, including the Bureau of Prisons. Kaspersky Lab's products are stocked on the shelves of Target and Best Buy, which also sells laptops loaded by manufacturers with the firm's anti-virus software. But in a secret memorandum sent last month to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Senate Intelligence Committee raised possible red flags about Kaspersky Lab and urged the intelligence community to address potential risks posed by the company's powerful market position. "This [is an] important national security issue," declared the bipartisan memorandum, described to ABC News by congressional sources.

8 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. "Russia's growing aggression toward the USA..." by Archtech · · Score: 4, Insightful

    https://socioecohistory.files....

    --
    I am sure that there are many other solipsists out there.
    1. Re:"Russia's growing aggression toward the USA..." by piojo · · Score: 1, Insightful

      That's cute, but have you heard about Russian propaganda about the US? One of the ways Putin maintains power is by rousing hatred against the US. Fortunately (for now), another way he stays in power is by painting himself as a peace-broken. (Remember, he controls the Russian media.) So there is quite a lot of aggressive sentiment toward the US, but that won't necessarily translate into war.

      --
      A cat can't teach a dog to bark.
  2. American companies in Russia? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And what about Microsoft, Apple, Google? Should Russia fear all these companies as well and ban them?

  3. Re:What makes you think they aren't already doing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    LOL,wait, there are people who think Kasperesky isn't compromised? ROFL. Using a respected and renowned cybersecurity first to as a cover seems like a no-brainer to me. I've assumed they were compromised years ago, quite frankly.

    Also, are there people who think Microsoft isn't compromised? ROFL. Using an operating system with the highest market share as a cover seems like a no-brainer to me. I've assumed they were compromised years ago, quite frankly.

  4. Re:Kapersky? Most respected cybersecurity firms? by Killall+-9+Bash · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wasn't it kaspersky that identified an NSA rootkit a few months back? Yep, they sure are a threat.

    --
    "Prediction: within 10 years, Windows will be a Linux distribution." Me, 7-6-2016
  5. Isn't this the NSA's job? by Cyberpunk+Reality · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Spying jokes aside, if the NSA (and the greater intelligence community) had pushed for good security practices from the beginning instead of cultivating an environment that made their spying easier, we wouldn't have to worry about this. The US government needs to realize that it cannot have it's cake and eat it too.

    --
    Rule 35 of the internet: "If it can be hacked, it will be". - Charles Stross
  6. Aww come on! by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Why don't the Democrats have done with it and just re-convene the House Un-American Activities Committee? Given today's political alignment, this could even include restarting the old John Birch Society campaign against dental fluoride. What was old is new again.

  7. US software by manu0601 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is a stupid move from US, with its world-dominating software industry. Following the same logic, most countries in the world should ban Windows.