Symantec and Kaspersky Software Security Products Banned by Chinese Government

Foreign security software off China’s government procurement list

Xinhua

August 3, 2014

BEIJING, Aug. 3 — A Chinese government procurement agency has excluded Symantec and Kaspersky, two foreign security software developers, from a security software supplier list.

According to a report from Beijing Youth Daily, all the five antivirus softwares in the list are from China, including Qihoo 360, Venustech, CAJinchen, Beijing Jiangmin and Rising.

China’s homegrown technology companies also got the better of their foreign counterparts in the personal computer operating system supplier list, making Microsoft the only foreign brand.

There is no indication whether the move has some connection with China’s emphasis on the security of IT products and software after Edward Snowden’s leaks about the intelligence gathering project PRISM from the National Security Agency of the United States.

China’s State Internet Information Office announced in May that it would start security vetting of major IT products and services for use by national security and public interests.