Best Buy Pulls Kaspersky Products From Shelves
Best Buy is removing Kaspersky software products from its location stores and online. This move by the leading electronics retailer in the United States comes in the wake of accusations that Kaspersky Lab is being unduly influenced by the Russian government.
This decision by Best Buy is said to be an outcome of the congressional inquiries into the relationship between Kaspersky, an acclaimed, Moscow-based security firm, and the Russian government.
Media reports about possible involvement by the software company with Kremlin have not helped their case with the Richfield-based retail giant, according to the Star Tribune. The management of Best Buy has decided to stop selling Kaspersky Lab software in their stores, rather than take on unnecessary risk from the many "unanswered questions" about the Russian company.
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A representative from the retail chain later confirmed the report to Reuters but has not added any statements as of this time.
Kaspersky Lab has been the subject of an investigation by a U.S. congressional panel, which has asked other agencies to come forward with information on the software firm. They are particularly interested in evidence of "nefarious activities against the United States" that could be connected to their cyber security products.
Just last month, the FBI has been reported to approach U.S. companies, allegedly to brief them on the threats that Kaspersky Lab products bring to corporate users. The agency has reportedly prioritized firms involved in the energy sector, along with industrial, supervisory and data acquisition companies.
A Best Buy spokesman, meanwhile, said that the company does not comment on its relationships with vendors, Kaspersky included. The retailer is letting customers who bought Kaspersky software from a Best Buy store, even those with an active subscription installed from their purchase, to make a return.
Best Buy is offering to exchange returned Kaspersky Lab products for software from another company in the next 45 days. To facilitate this, the retailer is also offering free service from their Geek Squad to uninstall the software within that span of time.
