The cabinet has decided to stop using anti-virus software produced by Russian company Kaspersky Lab, in order to guarantee national security, justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus has told MPs.

In addition, companies which work with the defence ministry and other vital services are also being advised to stop using the software, the minister said.

Kaspersky is required by Russian law to support the Russian security services and Russia has an offensive cyber programme which also targets the Netherlands, Grapperhaus said.

‘This combination of factors has led the government to conclude that there is a risk of digital espionage and sabotage against the government and vital services,’ the minister said.

According to the Volkskrant, Kaspersky software is installed on some 400 million computers worldwide.