The U.S. government's effort to purge its systems of anti-virus software from Kaspersky Lab has reached the final stage, according to a report from Nextgov.
Federal agencies have completed the first two steps by scanning their networks for the software, and also by developing plans to disable and replace it, adds the report, citing a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official.
The deadline to finish phase two was Nov. 19. Phase three – the software's actual removal – must be completed by Dec. 19, according to the DHS' directive to executive branch departments and agencies.
In September, the DHS officially banned government agencies from using anti-virus software developed by Russia-based Kaspersky due to concerns that it gave Kremlin agents a backdoor to spy on U.S. officials.
