Bloomberg BusinessWeek claims Kaspersky Lab has worked with Russia's FSB intelligence agency -- developing products for the FSB, and even accompanying Russian agents on raids. However, Kaspersky Lab has issued a lengthy, nine-point response to BusinessWeek's report, alleging that the article is filled with inaccurate statements and misinterpreted information.
The BusinessWeek report emerges amid a push by some U.S. senators to block the federal government from using Kaspersky's security software. Some government officials worry that Kaspersky's software potentially includes back doors or other hidden code that allows Russia to potentially gain information or compromise U.S. networks. The Russia-based endpoint security software company and CEO Eugene Kaspersky have repeatedly denied the allegations.
Kaspersky Lab Responds to Bloomberg BusinessWeek
And now, Kaspersky also is taking aim at the BusinessWeek article, stating:
“Regardless of how the facts are misconstrued to fit in with a hypothetical, false theory, Kaspersky Lab, and its executives, do not have inappropriate ties with any government. The company does regularly work with governments and law enforcement agencies around the world with the sole purpose of fighting cybercrime.
In the internal communications referenced within the recent article, the facts are once again either being misinterpreted or manipulated to fit the agenda of certain individuals desperately wanting there to be inappropriate ties between the company, its CEO and the Russian government, but no matter what communication they claim to have, the facts clearly remain there is no evidence because no such inappropriate ties exist.”
Building on that statement, Kaspersky's nine-point response to the BusinessWeek article is available here. MSSP Alert has reached out to Bloomberg BusinessWeek for a response to Kaspersky's claims, and we'll update this article if we receive a response.
Kaspersky Lab Partner Program: Under Pressure?
It's unclear if or how speculation about Kaspersky and Russia has impacted the software company's channel business in the U.S. The privately held company has a longstanding partner program, and in April 2017 launched a formalized MSSP partner push.
MSSP Alert has reached to Kaspersky, seeking to determine how the company is performing overall and within the channel. We'll update this coverage if/when we have new details to share.
