Italy intends to stop the use of Russian anti-virus software in the public sector. The reason is Russian aggression in Ukraine. Italian authorities fear that Russian anti-virus software could be used to hack the country's key websites.
According to Reuters, new government rules will allow local authorities to replace any potentially dangerous software. The rules, which are set to go into effect as early as this week, are apparently aimed at globally renowned Russian antivirus maker Kaspersky Lab.
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In response, the firm said it was monitoring the situation and that it had "serious concerns" about the fate of its employees in the country, who it said could be victims of geopolitical reasons, not technical ones. She also emphasized that it is a private company and has no ties to the Russian government.
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Earlier this week, Germany's federal cybersecurity agency BSI (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik) warned Kaspersky Lab customers of a serious risk of hacker attacks. Russian authorities could reportedly force the company to hack into foreign IT systems. In addition, the agency warned that government agents could use its technology for cyberattacks without its knowledge. The company said it believes the authority issued the warning for political reasons, and its representatives have already asked the German government for an explanation.
