Heading to Best Buy to purchase a new software security suite? Don't plan on getting one from Kaspersky Lab, because you won't find it there.
As reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Best Buy decided to pull Kaspersky products from its store shelves amid media and US government suspicion about the security firm's link to the Russian government. A Kaspersky Lab spokesperson confirmed the breakup in a Tuesday statement to PCMag.
"Kaspersky Lab and Best Buy have suspended their relationship at this time," the company wrote.
The move comes after Bloomberg in July cited internal Kaspersky Lab emails when reporting that the security vendor "maintained a much closer working relationship with Russia's main intelligence agency, the FSB, than it has publicly admitted" — a claim Kaspersky denied.
"Kaspersky Lab, and its executives, do not have inappropriate ties with any government," the Moscow-based company said in a July statement. "The company does regularly work with governments and law enforcement agencies around the world with the sole purpose of fighting cybercrime."
Around the same time, the Trump administration removed Kaspersky Lab from two lists of approved vendors from which government agencies can purchase technology equipment. The move was reportedly driven by "concerns its products could be used by the Kremlin to gain entry into US networks."
Kaspersky said its CEO and Founder Eugene Kaspersky "repeatedly offered to meet with government officials, testify before the US Congress, and provide the company's source code for an official audit to help address any questions the US government has."
Best Buy declined to comment on the matter when contacted by PCMag, saying: "we don't comment on contracts with specific vendors."
Kaspersky, meanwhile, said its relationship with Best Buy "may be re-evaluated in the future."
"Kaspersky Lab has enjoyed a decade-long partnership with Best Buy and its customer base, and Kaspersky Lab will continue to offer its industry-leading cybersecurity solutions to consumers through its website and other retailers," the company wrote.
The falling out with Best Buy comes after Kaspersky just ended a feud with Microsoft. The antivirus maker had filed suit against Microsoft in Russia and Europe, claiming the Redmond tech giant disabled and removed its antivirus software during a Windows 10 upgrade. Kaspersky dropped the suit last month as Microsoft announced a series of changes to ensure third-party cybersecurity products will no longer face compatibility issues on Windows 10.