Kaspersky stops copperation with Europol over calls for EU ban
Russian cybersecurity giant Kaspersky Lab said it has decided to put a halt to its work with several European anti-cybercrime initiatives, following a move in the European Parliament to ban its antivirus software.
The move follows major accusations against the firm, including from the United States, of working hand in hand with the Kremlin.
"Kaspersky Lab has taken the difficult decision to temporarily halt our numerous collaborative European cybercrime-fighting initiatives, including those with Europol," the Moscow-based security firm said in a statement Wednesday.
The statement came as the European Parliament issued a report demanding a ban on "malicious" programs and devices, and singling out Kaspersky Lab.
In its statement, Kaspersky responded: "Although this report has no legislative power it demonstrates a distinct lack of respect for the company which has been a firm friend of Europe in the fight against cybercrime."
It also said it was halting its NoMoreRansom project, which it described as having "helped many organizations and users to decrypt files on their devices, saving them from financial losses".
Kaspersky said the European Parliament's move "encourages cybercrime in Europe", adding that it hoped to resume its collaboration with European cybercrime-fighting initiatives soon.
The United States Department of Homeland Security in September last year ordered US agencies using Kaspersky products to remove and replace them with other approved software within 90 days.
In May, the Dutch government also said it would progressively halt its use of the Russian antivirus program.
Kaspersky rejects accusations of working with the Kremlin, and in May announced a decision to move its core infrastructure and operations to Switzerland.
Some 400 million computers around the world are fitted with Kaspersky Lab's antivirus products.
(Source: AFP)
Spain bars Israel from 2025 security expo over Gaza, Lebanon genocide
Spain cancels arms deal with Israeli company worth billions over Gaza war
EU's Borrell renews call for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Lebanon
2 more Israeli forces killed in N Gaza: Reports
Iran relies on natural gas for nearly 90% of its power production: Expert
US embassy in Beirut blocks Iraq-Lebanon humanitarian air bridge
VIDEO | UK's Starmer targets journalists
Israel plans to displace Palestinians in occupied West Bank: Hamas
Iranian airlines ramp up Istanbul route flights after EU sanctions
British protesters slam UK’s complicity in Gaza genocide on Balfour day
US surgeon haunted by Gaza children with ‘single gunshot wounds to head’
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
