Trump administration considering government-wide ban on popular Russian software

[mia]

Source: ABC News

The Trump administration is on the verge of deciding whether to block all federal agencies from using products developed by a popular Russian cyber-security firm, which is under increasing scrutiny for alleged ties to Russian intelligence services, government sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

A final decision could be made in the coming days over whether to strip the Moscow-based firm, Kaspersky Lab, from the General Services Administration's (GSA) list of outside vendors whose products are approved for use by government agencies, the sources said....

Removing Kaspersky Lab from the list -- known as the "GSA Schedule" -- would likely only impact future contracts, ABC News was told.

If the Trump administration does move to block government agencies from using the company's products, it would mark the most significant and far-reaching response yet to concerns among current U.S. officials that Russian intelligence services could try to exploit Kaspersky Lab's anti-virus software to steal and manipulate users' files, read private emails or attack critical infrastructure in the United States.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-administration-government-wide-ban-popular-russian-software/story?id=48559277

[KRISITNA]

1. lol too little too late

[asuhornets]

2. EXACTLY!!!

Nice try Don Sr and Don Jr...Y'all going down

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

4. Well, Kaspersky has been crying that Microsoft won't play nice with them...

... https://www.infopackets.com/news/10118/microsoft-accused-unfair-security-behavior

"Security firm Kaspersky Lab has filed a formal complaint accusing Microsoft of acting unfairly over the way it promotes its own security products. Microsoft says it is acting to keep Windows users protected.

Kaspersky previously complained to the Federal Anti-monpoly Service in its home country of Russia. That led to several changes to Microsoft's policy, including rewording a message that suggested users uninstall third-party security software and use the built-in Windows Defender instead."

I have never used Kaspersky and sure as bleep won't. Backdoors anyone? How many compromised systems in the U.S. of A. were running Kaspersky?

[mia]

7. Sen. Shaheen authored a provision in the defense spending bill to bar business with Kapersky firm

A provision in a Senate spending bill that is likely to become law would bar the Defense Department from doing business with Kaspersky Lab, the Russian cyber-security company whose employees were interviewed at their homes this week by FBI agents.

The Congressional action comes amid mounting concerns about the Moscow-based company, which sells anti-virus software across the world to consumers, businesses and government agencies, including some elements of the U.S. government....

Last month, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., asked the chiefs of the NSA, Central Intelligence Agency, FBI and three other intelligence agencies during a hearing whether they would be comfortable using Kaspersky products. Each said no.

"The ties between Kaspersky Lab and the Kremlin are very alarming," said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who authored the provision in the defense spending bill.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fbi-interviews-employees-russia-linked-cyber-security-firm-kaspersky-lab-n777571

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

10. Yep...

... I get a few techie newsletters, and do recall what you mention here.

[Shell_Seas]

3. "Considering"

I bet nothing comes out of this. They are trying to distract.

[Botany]

5. Does somebody want to get that barn door?

[Tanuki]

6. Locking the barn after the horse is stolen

https://m.

[Bradical79]

8. Honestly, it should've been done awhile ago.

Before Trump became Illigitimate POTUS.

[FigTree]

9. There are many top AV softwares.

Of which, Kaspersky is only one, and I would suggest probably not the one used by the feds. A cosmetic measure. Cosmetic measures being pretty much the only ones that this administration will ever be able to roll out, barring which, the ugly truth(s) will be leaked by the Kremlin.