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“U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) sent a letter Thursday to a number of federal agencies requesting documents and information regarding Kaspersky Lab,… Headquartered in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab products have been used by several United States government agencies and entities… “Kaspersky Lab specializes in anti-virus software—products with potentially uninhibited access to the systems they protect…. several concerns have been raised regarding the company and Eugene Kaspersky—the founder and CEO of Kaspersky Lab—and his potential ties to the Russian government. The Committee is concerned that Kaspersky Lab is susceptible to manipulation by the Russian government, and that its products could be used as a tool for espionage, sabotage, or other nefarious activities against the United States,’…” See more further below.

Back in March US Congressman Elijah Cummings, a Democrat, pointed out:

Click to access 2016-03-16.EEC%20to%20POTUS%20DOD%20FBI%20re%20Flynn%20Payments.pdf

Trump’s former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn was paid to speak by Kapersky. On February 2nd, shortly after Trump became president, the Trump administration lifted sanctions which blocked the Russian FSB from getting the latest Information Technology (IT) products/ updates. Access to updates, etc., due to the lifting of sanctions facilitates Russian hacking of the US and Europe. The Trump administration seems to be effectively inviting Russia’s security services (FSB) to do more hacking. However, use of Kapersky could mean that hacking isn’t even necessary in some instances. The so-called US sanctions do not appear to have restored these sanctions against the FSB.

Click to access 2016-03-16.EEC%20to%20POTUS%20DOD%20FBI%20re%20Flynn%20Payments.pdf

US House Oversight Documents Confirming That Flynn Received Funds From Instrument of Russian Government; Russia Cybersecurity Group, and Russian Airline

“SST Committee Probes Kaspersky Lab In Cabinet Level Request
Jul 28, 2017 Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) sent a letter Thursday to a number of federal agencies requesting documents and information regarding Kaspersky Lab, one of the world’s largest cybersecurity companies. Headquartered in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab products have been used by several United States government agencies and entities. Smith’s letter requests information regarding computers, systems, data, and any other information that may be accessible to Kaspersky Lab from each agency.

“Kaspersky Lab specializes in anti-virus software—products with potentially uninhibited access to the systems they protect. . . . several concerns have been raised regarding the company and Eugene Kaspersky—the founder and CEO of Kaspersky Lab—and his potential ties to the Russian government. The Committee is concerned that Kaspersky Lab is susceptible to manipulation by the Russian government, and that its products could be used as a tool for espionage, sabotage, or other nefarious activities against the United States,” the letter states.

Compromised anti-virus has the potential to undermine the security and integrity of any system on which it is installed, and could do so without detection. The committee, which has jurisdiction over the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), seeks to ensure the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is properly equipped and adapted to safeguard our nation’s information. The documents and information requested in today’s letter will assist the committee in determining whether the  NIST Cybersecurity Framework requires further refinement when implemented by federal departments and agencies.

Smith’s letter can be found here.

Click to access 072717%20Smith-Agencies%20-%20Kaspersky.pdf

115th Congress
https://science.house.gov/news/press-releases/sst-committee-probes-kaspersky-lab-cabinet-level-request

One of many letters that he sent out. Emphasis our own.





https://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/072717%20Smith-Agencies%20-%20Kaspersky.pdf