In order to work properly, anti-virus (AV) software must “be highly intrusive within a network so it can find malware” and “be able to communicate back to the vendor,” Martin said.

Martin, of the NCSC, said the nature of anti-virus software gave cause for extra concern. It rejects the allegations and said in September that it doesn’t have “unethical ties or affiliations with any government, including Russia” and “has never helped, nor will help, any government in the world with its cyberespionage or offensive cyber efforts.”Ī visitor passes the Kaspersky Lab pavilion at a technology fair in Hanover, Germany, in March. The company has been battling allegations that it has links to Russian spy agencies. The UK government step follows a similar move by the United States in September, when the Department of Homeland Security ordered government agencies to remove any products from Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab because of security concerns. The guidance goes further, adding that “for systems processing information classified SECRET and above, a Russia-based provider should never be used.” NCSC chief executive Ciaran Martin cautioned in the letter that in cases where access to the information by Russia “would be a risk to national security, a Russia-based (anti-virus) company should not be chosen.”

The guidance was issued in an open letter to all UK permanent secretaries and released to the public on Saturday. Britain’s National Cyber Security Center has advised all UK government departments to avoid using Russia-based anti-virus software, warning that it could be exploited by the Russian government.

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