Kaspersky executives face Congressional committee on Russia accusiations
Eugene Kaspersky will face a US Congressional Committee today to address allegations that Kaspersky Lab, a cybersecurity firm, assisted Russian government-backed hacking of the NSA in 2015.
The breach occurred when an NSA contractor removed highly classified cyber secrets from the NSA without authorisation. According to Israeli intelligence, Russian spies then allegedly hacked the data from their home computer which used Kaspersky software and was the reason behind President Trump’s ban of Kaspersky’s use in government last month. To combat the accusations and allay consumers’ fears, Kaspersky has responded by announcing a ‘comprehensive transparency initiative’ which includes submitting its source code for independent review.
Given the frequency of high-profile attacks in recent years, some fear the cybersecurity industry is becoming increasingly Balkanised, making cross-border crime harder to fight. While the Moscow-based company fervently denies complicity, it faces an uphill battle to restore public confidence.
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