Romanian public institutions, urged to refrain from using Russian antivirus software

According to a resolution taken Thursday by the Romanian government, Russian antivirus software goods and services should no longer be purchased or used by Romanian authorities and public organizations.
The currently installed antivirus software will be uninstalled or disconnected.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, enacted a measure that establishes methods of protection for cyber networks owned by public agencies and institutions.

Additionally, with the assistance of the Ministry of Digitalization, the Romanian Authority for Digitalization, the Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate, the Romanian Intelligence Service, and the Romanian Special Telecommunications Service, the Russian software products that have already been purchased or installed will be disconnected from the network and/or uninstalled.

This action has been done in response to the cyber security experts’ warning that Romanian institutions and authorities’ use of Russian antivirus software puts them at risk.

As there is always a chance of a cyberattack if Russia chooses to exploit their antivirus software, several EU member states have a tendency to recommend or pass laws to force public institutions within their own jurisdictions to change their antivirus systems if they come from the Russian Federation.

Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Romania saw a significant increase in the number of cyberattacks directed against its infrastructure.

The Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitisation, Sebastian Burduja, said on Wednesday that the Government will request an urgent procedure for the adoption of this bill in the Romanian Parliament.

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