DHS wants Russian-made Kaspersky Lab anti-virus software off of US federal branch computers

image source:pctechmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Kaspersky-labs.jpg

Dumb-da-dumb-dumb-dumb! It's no secret that Russia has it's own NSA-like surveillance agency, called SORM. The really, really big question is WHO installed Russian software in the first place?! - PROSECUTE THESE IDIOTS as traitors and saboteurs!

Thanks to Microsoft's policy of keeping the backdoor open for itself, the NSA & CIA, as well as any hacker that uses the NSA's leaked code can slip through that backdoor, finger through your documents, looking for banking and identity info or scan your calendar and email to see when you'll be out of town for an actual physical break-in to your home. All devices running Windows, as well as Android, Apple and other NSA-compliant operating systems that communicate online are vulnerable to spyware, malware and ransomware.

Aside from the obvious - that it's never a good idea to allow foreigners access to unpublished government documents and data- there's actually a possible, more subtle reason DHS doesn't want Kaspersky protection on government computers - it blocks the backdoor on Microsoft Windows, preventing the NSA and CIA , as well as all the hackers in the world, from snooping around and dropping spyware/malware/remote access code on computers.

Just maybe the DHS doesn't like having Kaspersky blocking them when they try to hack the computers of the Federal Executive Branch departments and agencies. Perhaps it's quite telling that the Binding Operational Directive isn't directed at the Senate or Congress nor any of the independent agencies, like NASA, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the USPS. ONLY the Executive Branch is targeted and we all know how much the Deep State wants to keep a tight reign on the Executive Branch. Oh, FOOL! You cover your own eyes and thing WE don't see YOU!

DHS Press Release:
WASHINGTON – After careful consideration of available information and consultation with interagency partners, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke today issued a Binding Operational Directive (BOD) directing Federal Executive Branch departments and agencies to take actions related to the use or presence of information security products, solutions, and services supplied directly or indirectly by AO Kaspersky Lab or related entities.

This action is based on the information security risks presented by the use of Kaspersky products on federal information systems. Kaspersky anti-virus products and solutions provide broad access to files and elevated privileges on the computers on which the software is installed, which can be exploited by malicious cyber actors to compromise those information systems. The Department is concerned about the ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence and other government agencies, and requirements under Russian law that allow Russian intelligence agencies to request or compel assistance from Kaspersky and to intercept communications transiting Russian networks. The risk that the Russian government, whether acting on its own or in collaboration with Kaspersky, could capitalize on access provided by Kaspersky products to compromise federal information and information systems directly implicates U.S. national security.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/09/13/dhs-statement-issuance-binding-operational-directive-17-01

Russia's Surveillance System
SORM (Russian: Система Оперативно-Розыскных Мероприятий, literally "System for Operative Investigative Activities") is the technical specification for lawful interception interfaces of telecommunications and telephone networks operating in Russia. The current form of the specification enables the targeted surveillance of both telephone and Internet communications. Initially implemented in 1995 to allow access to surveillance data for the FSB, in subsequent years the access has been widened to other law enforcement agencies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SORM

List of government mass surveillance systems
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_government_mass_surveillance_projects

Kaspersky Lab
Despite some in the US worrying about the possibility of meddling by Russian intelligence, Kaspersky services are also used by such federal US agencies as the Bureau of Prisons, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission and some segments of the Defense Department.[6]

The Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) has discovered sophisticated espionage platforms linked to US intelligence, such as Equation Group and the Stuxnet worm. Various covert government-sponsored cyber-espionage efforts were uncovered through their research. Kaspersky also publishes the annual Global IT Security Risks Survey.[7] As of 2014, Kaspersky's research hubs analyze more than 350,000 malware samples per day.[8]

In 2017, Kaspersky became the subject of controversy in the United States, over allegations that the company has engaged with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), in the wake of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security subsequently banned Kaspersky products from all government departments on 13 September 2017. The company has denied that it has direct ties with or has engaged with the Russian government.[9]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaspersky_Lab

Notice that the above Wikipedia entry is wrong. Kaspersky is NOT banned from ALL government departments. It is banned ONLY from Federal Executive Branch departments and agencies

US Federal Executive Departments
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_executive_departments

US Independent Agencies of Government - Not restricted by the Kaspersky ban
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_agencies_of_the_United_States_government