How Kaspersky Lab got on the US government’s bad side – CNET

Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab

A peek inside Kaspersky Lab’s Moscow headquarters. The US government is concerned about the cybersecurity company’s ties to the Russian government.

Sergei Savostyanov\TASS via Getty Images

The US government and one of the most popular and well-reviewed antivirus software companies are going through a messy breakup.

There were happier times. Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab has been a top cybersecurity company with government contracts around the world, including the US. As recently as September, the company’s software was one of the highest-rated virus protections, with 400 million users worldwide, according to the company.

Then came allegations of the company’s ties to the Russian government. The US House Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a hearing Wednesday into the risks that Kaspersky Lab products may pose for the US.

It’s the latest outgrowth of the increased attention on Russian hacking, a national security issue that has prompted lawmakers to look into potential threats to systems like our electrical power grid and electoral process.