PRESS: Kaspersky Lab sells software to US govt for $300,000 in ‘16

MOSCOW, Oct 19 (PRIME) -- Russian antivirus software maker Kaspersky Lab sold its products to U.S. state entities for some U.S. $300,000 in 2016, and there was not a single military organization among its clients, business daily Vedomosti reported on Thursday.

The company does not directly sell software products in the U.S., but via partners, a Kaspersky Lab spokesperson told the daily.

In total, Kaspersky Lab earned $644 million in 2016.

First reports on Kaspersky Lab’s being suspected by Washington of ties to Russian special services appeared at the beginning of the year. In May, six heads of U.S. law enforcement entities said that the company’s products should not be used in networks of these authorities.

In September, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ordered state authorities and agencies to stop using programs of Kaspersky Lab over concerns about its ties with the Kremlin. The company denied all the accusations.

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology at Congress will hold hearings on Kaspersky Lab on October 25, while participants are yet to be chosen.

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