Senate Committee Reportedly Zeroes In On Russian Cybersecurity Firm Widely Utilized in U.S.
The Senate Intelligence Committee reportedly spotlighted the potential threat surrounding a Russian cyber security firm during a classified hearing on Wednesday.
ABC News detailed the congressional panel’s apparent concerns in a Wednesday article. The hearing’s agenda had recently been amended to include “U.S. intelligence about Kaspersky Lab, a Moscow-based firm that has become one of the world’s largest and most respected cybersecurity firms,” according to anonymous congressional sources.
Per ABC:
“Current and former U.S. officials worry that state-sponsored hackers 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 U.S. And they point to Kaspersky Lab executives with previous ties to Russian intelligence and military agencies.”
The Russian company, whose software are “widely used in homes and businesses throughout the U.S.,” tried to downplay the concerns, underlining that “it poses no threat to U.S. customers and would never allow itself to be used as a tool of the Russian government.”
“My response if I’m asked to spy on anyone coming from any state, any government -— not only Russian —- will be definite ‘no,'” company CEO Eugene Kaspersky said.
ABC’s report also pointed out that the firm’s products are currently in use at “federal agencies as the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and even some segments of the Defense Department.” And when Marco Rubio asked Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats if he would use the company’s software on his devices, he reportedly answered, “A resounding no from me.”
And, the report adds, “all five of the other U.S. intelligence officials unanimously agreed.”
Earlier this month, ABC News reported on the concerns these intel chiefs had about this particular cybersecurity firm:
Senior members of the U.S. intelligence community are for the first time publicly expressing concern that one of the world’s largest cyber-security firms — Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab — could pose a threat to the U.S. homeland.
The acting head of the FBI, Andrew McCabe, told the Senate Intelligence Committee today that his agency is “very concerned about it … and we are focused on it closely.”
Robert Cardillo, the director of National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, said he is “aware of the Kaspersky Lab challenge and/or threat.” CIA Director Mike Pompeo said the matter “has risen to the director of the CIA as well.” And the head of the National Security Agency, Adm. Mike Rogers, said he is “personally aware and involved” in “national security issues” associated with Kaspersky Lab.
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