MOSCOW, Russia: The cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has refuted claims that it poses a security risk after the U.S. Commerce Department banned its software in the United States.
In a statement, the Moscow-based company, led by Russian CEO Eugene Kaspersky, asserted that the Commerce Department’s decision would not impact its ability to sell and promote its cybersecurity products and training in the U.S.
Kaspersky argued that the government’s decision was based on the “geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns” rather than independent verification of any actual risk.
The U.S. government stated that Kaspersky’s Russian connections presented an “undue or unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the safety and security.” The Commerce Department highlighted that Eugene Kaspersky, a Russian citizen living in Russia, is subject to Russian law, raising concerns about the company’s potential obligations to the Russian government.
The department’s decision, dated June 14 and posted on the Federal Register, noted that while considering Kaspersky’s objections, it found the ban to be “well supported.” The main concern was not the effectiveness of Kaspersky’s products in identifying malware but the potential for these products to be used strategically to harm U.S. interests.
Kaspersky, known for its popular consumer antivirus products and a respected research unit that frequently exposes elite hacking groups, has been under scrutiny in the past. In 2019, an Associated Press investigation found that an undercover operative targeted several cybersecurity experts to gather intelligence about critics of Kaspersky.
The company maintains that it cannot intentionally obtain sensitive data on Americans and that its operations in Russia can only access aggregate or statistical data, not data attributable to specific individuals. Kaspersky argued that the U.S. government’s decision would ultimately benefit cybercriminals and reduce the freedom of consumers and organizations to choose their cybersecurity solutions.
“We look forward to what the future holds and will continue to defend ourselves against actions that seek to unfairly harm our reputation and commercial interests,” Kaspersky stated.
