Gov Systems Kaspersky-Free but Contractors Not in the Clear

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that all federal government computer systems have been scrubbed of Kaspersky Lab anti-virus, but it remains on some contractor systems. DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says that the project to remove it is “pretty advanced.”

The order to remove Kaspersky from contractor systems was included in the latest annual National Defense Authorization Act, which became law in December.

Many federal contractors were unaware that the anti-virus was included in their supply chains or running in their products, Nielsen said. DHS is working with agencies to “be more forward pushing” in imposing consequences on contractors that have not removed it, she said.