US steps up investigation into risk of Kaspersky antivirus

The US has intensified its investigations into Russian antivirus firm Kaspersky following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

White House officials had asked the Commerce Department last year to investigate the risk, but reports say that little progress had been made by March.

They then urged investigators to speed up their work amid heightened concern that the Kremlin might be able to use Kaspersky to spy on the US and other Western nations.

Sources close to the investigation told news agency Reuters that officials are particularly worried about Russian hackers gaining access to critical infrastructure such as power grids.

In 2017, the Trump administration banned government departments from using Kaspersky products, after the Department for Homeland Security expressed concerns that the company was vulnerable to being influenced by Moscow.

It cited a Russian law that allows its spy agencies to force Kaspersky to help it intercept communications.

But this ban didn’t extend to organisations outside of government, leading to fears that Kaspersky might one day be used to launch attacks on infrastructure.

US regulators could force Kaspersky to modify its software to reduce any risk, but their powers stop short of preventing retailers selling Kaspersky software, or banning individuals from using it.

In March, the UK’S National Cyber Security Centre warned that some British businesses and organisations should boost their defences, but added that it “almost certainly remains the case that nearly all individuals in the UK” won’t be attacked.

Kaspersky declined to comment on the latest reports. It has always denied any secret involvement with Russian intelligence.

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