US intel chiefs express security doubts about Kaspersky antivirus software from Russia

Top US intelligence chiefs on Thursday publicly expressed doubts about the global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Labs because of its roots in Russia.

Six leading intelligence officials told a Senate hearing on external threats to the United States of their concerns over the firm’s broad presence, without specifying any particular threat.

Asked if he was aware of a security threat tied to Kaspersky software, Federal Bureau of Investigation acting director Andrew McCabe replied: “We are very concerned about it and we are focused on it very closely.”

Defence Intelligence Agency director Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart said his agency is avoiding the company’s products.

“There is, as well as I know, no Kaspersky software on our networks,” he said, adding that the agency’s private sector contractors are also steering clear.

Also indicating their concerns in brief were the heads of the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the Director of National Intelligence.