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Kaspersky Lab denies any ties to Russian government

The company says it has never worked with a government to aid in cyberespionage.

Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
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Tap tap. "Who's there?" Cyberspy. "Cyberspy who?" Wouldn't you like to know.

 Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

Kaspersky Lab has fired back at the US government.

The security software company denied allegations that it helped the Russian government with its cyberespionage efforts. Kaspersky CEO Eugene Kaspersky, during a Reddit AMA, said he would be happy to testify in front of the US Senate.

"I'm very sorry these gentlemen can't use the best software on the market because of political reasons," he said.

The comments come after National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers told a Senate committee that he was looking into government use of software from Russia-based Kaspersky Lab, according to Reuters.

Cybersecurity has become a hot topic in Washington as concerns have mounted over email leaks during the 2016 presidential election campaign and reports of Russian online meddling, as well as breaches at government agencies and in the business world. On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order on cybersecurity intended to modernize and strengthen US computer systems.

Kaspersky said it is ready to assist the government with the investigation and believes a "deeper examination of Kaspersky Lab will confirm that these allegations are unfounded."

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