This means the software can be packaged and renamed in commercial deals by information technology contractors, making their origin difficult to immediately determine. In addition, Kaspersky's products are also sometimes sold under white-label sales agreements. Intel and IBM did not respond to requests for comment.

The Russian cybersecurity firm, which has an office in the United States, lists partnerships with Microsoft, Intel and IBM on its website. The company spokeswoman said that Kaspersky worked as a 'software engineer' during military service. official said Kaspersky's Russia-based staff could be coerced into providing or helping establish remote access into their customers' computers by Russian law enforcement or intelligence agencies.Įugene Kaspersky, according to his company website, graduated from the Institute of Cryptography, Telecommunications and Computer Science, which the Soviet KGB previously administered. officials describe as a former Russian intelligence officer.Ī Kaspersky spokeswoman said in a statement that the briefings about purported risks of Kaspersky software would be 'further damaging' to Kaspersky’s reputation 'without giving the company the opportunity to respond directly to such concerns' and that it 'is not appropriate or just.' Kaspersky, one of the cybersecurity industry's most popular anti-virus software makers, is headquartered in Moscow and was founded by Eugene Kaspersky, who U.S. 'The risk calculation has changed with the Ukraine conflict,' said the senior U.S. 24 attack on Ukraine could result in a backlash, including cyber disruptions, but the White House did not offer specifics. President Joe Biden said last week that sanctions imposed on Russia for its Feb. The classified briefings are part of Washington's broader strategy to prepare providers of critical infrastructure such as water, telecoms and energy for potential Russian intrusions. official and two people familiar with the matter. government began privately warning some American companies the day after Russia invaded Ukraine that Moscow could manipulate software designed by Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky to cause harm, according to a senior U.S.

Kaspersky lab software