The Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo noted that Russia’s influence over the company poses a significant security risk.
That is why, the Biden administration on Thursday in an announcement said that they plan to bar the sale of antivirus software made by Russia’s Kaspersky Lab in the United States.
How Did This Happen?
According to them, this software’s privileged access to a computer’s systems could allow it to steal sensitive information from American computers.
It could also install malware and withhold critical updates, enhancing the threat, said the sources noting that
Kaspersky’s customers include critical infrastructure providers and state and local governments.
During a briefing call with reporters, Raimondo said, “Russia has shown it has the capacity and … the intent to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans and that is why we are compelled to take the action that we are taking today.”
Geopolitical Climate and Theoretical Concerns Affecting Situation
In its defense, Kaspersky said that it believed the U.S. decision was based on “the present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns, rather than on a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of Kaspersky’s products and services.”
Further, Kaspersky said that its activities did not threaten U.S. national security and that it will pursue legal options to preserve its operations, in its emailed statement.
So far, the Russian Embassy did not respond to the requests for comment.
Prior to this, Kaspersky said that it is a privately managed company with no ties to the Russian government.
This new rule created by the administration of former President Donald Trump, is seen to be coupled with another move to add three units of the company to a trade restriction list, Raimondo said, giving a blow to Kaspersky’s reputation that could hammer its overseas sales.
This move also represents that the Biden administration is trying to stamp out any risks of Russian cyberattacks stemming from Kaspersky software.
They plan to keep squeezing Moscow as its war effort in Ukraine has regained momentum and the United States has run low on fresh sanctions it can impose on Russia.
Besides this, it also represents that the administration is harnessing a powerful new authority which allows it to ban or restrict transactions between U.S. firms and internet, telecom and tech companies from “foreign adversary” nations like Russia and China.
Confirming the same, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Democratic Senator Mark Warner said, “We would never give an adversarial nation the keys to our networks or devices, so it’s crazy to think that we would continue to allow Russian software with the deepest possible device access to be sold to Americans.”
