House Science Asks DHS for Proof Kaspersky Lab Software Is Being Removed

The House Science Committee seeks evidence federal agencies are removing Kaspersky Lab software from federal IT systems, said Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, in a Wednesday letter to Department of Homeland Security acting Secretary Elaine Duke. Smith raised the issue in an October hearing (see 1710250031) when he noted the General Services Administration banned Kaspersky Lab software after vulnerabilities allowed hackers, including the Russian government, to breach federal systems. Government needs to "leverage all resources to ensure that Kaspersky products on federal systems have been completely removed," Smith's letter said. He wants DHS to identify by Dec. 19 what's needed to eliminate the risk from Kaspersky's products. The company didn't comment.