Italy Restricts Use Of Anti-Virus Products Russia, Kaspersky, Ferrari Also Terminate Contract

Ferrari also terminated Kaspersky's contract. (photo: @ScuderiaFerrari)

JAKARTA – The Italian government is ready to limit the use of anti-virus software from Russia in the public sector after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They fear that Moscow could hijack this program to hack their main website.

Franco Gabrielli, the state's deputy security minister, told the Senate on Tuesday, March 15 that the government was working on rules to allow state agencies to stop software developed by Russia-based Kaspersky Lab.

A government source told Reuters the new rules would let public administrations replace any software deemed potentially harmful, without facing penalties. Sources in Italy said the regulations could be approved as early as this week.

Kaspersky's Italy office said it was monitoring the situation with "grave concern" and was particularly concerned about its employees. Kaspersky, warned that they risk suffering a decision based on geopolitics rather than technical issues.

"We hope that this attitude will not lead to the adoption of illiberal laws that will primarily affect our Italian partners, families and citizens," Kaspersky said in an email to Reuters.

Kaspersky added that they are a privately run company with no ties to the Russian government.

In a recommendation issued last Tuesday, Italy's state cybersecurity agency said there was no evidence that products supplied by companies linked to Russia had been hacked since the February 24 invasion of Ukraine.

However, he cautioned that any risks need to be reassessed amid the growing conflict and that anti-virus software is particularly sensitive due to the "high invasion rate" of the systems they serve.

Earlier this week, Germany's cybersecurity agency warned users of Kaspersky's software that it posed a serious risk of hacking attacks.

In a sign that the Italian business world is also sensitive about its relationship with Kaspersky, Ferrari's Formula One team said on Thursday that its sponsorship deal with the company had been suspended by mutual agreement. A Ferrari spokesman also said the company was assessing the use of Kaspersky's antivirus software.