Antivirus software provider Kaspersky Lab has been blacklisted by the US Federal Communications Commission, adding its name to those of Huawei and ZTE among companies deemed a national security threat.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has determined that the company Moscow-based Kaspersky now posed a threat to national security. This is the second time the federal government has pointed the finger at Kaspersky. This is not the only one to have been banned from the United States, since the FCC has also announced similar sanctions against China Mobile International USA and China Telecom (Americas).
Passed in March 2020, the Secure Networks Act prevents communications equipment or services that pose a national security risk to enter US networks and requires the FCC to publish and maintain a list of such equipment or services, often referred to as a “blacklist.” The move comes two weeks after the German government advised its citizens to uninstall Kaspersky anti-virus softwareciting security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kaspersky leaves the United States amid tension in Ukraine
The FCC’s decision is obviously linked to the situation in Ukraine, where war has been raging for more than a month now. In a context where Ukraine is automating its cyberattacks against Russia, it is not surprising to see the United States beware of a Russian cybersecurity company.
The cybersecurity company Kaspersky was not viewed favorably by the US government anyway. Indeed, we had learned that Kaspersky had discovered last year a spyware attributed to the CIA called “Purple Lambert”, which should not have pleased the American agency.
Officially, the US blacklist now includes China Mobile International USA Inc, China Telecom (Americas) Corp, and AO Kaspersky Labs, as well as their subsidiaries. We also find ZTE, but also Huawei which saw its telephony activities bear the brunt of the 2019 United States decision.
Source: FCC
