Lithuanian government bans Kaspersky Lab in critical infrastructure

VILNIUS, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian government decided to ban Kaspersky Lab software in the state's critical infrastructure and information resources on grounds of security threats, announced the Lithuanian defense ministry on Thursday.

The Baltic State's government recognized in its sitting that Kaspersky Lab software poses potential threat to the national security. The cabinet also ordered managers of critical information infrastructure and state information resources to replace the software with "safe equivalents", according to the Defense ministry's announcement.

The ban will affect Lithuania's state controlled energy, finance system, transport computer systems, public sector. Private companies are advised to assess their risks of using the software individually, according the announcement.

"We have to ensure cyber security of the state therefore it is a timely decision of the Government taken with regard to the assessment of threats and vulnerabilities," Edvinas Kerza, deputy defense minister was quoted in the announcement.

Lithuania's decision follows the similar of the U.S. taken recently.

Kaspersky Lab has repeatedly denied to global media having any ties with any government and insisted it would not help a government to conduct cyber espionage.

In recent years, Lithuanian institutions have faced an increase in cyber attacks, according to the country's cyber security specialists.

Data from Lithuania's communications regulatory authority shows that specialists investigated almost 40,500 cyber incidents last year, 19 percent more than in 2015. Enditem