*Barclays axes free Kaspersky product as a 'precaution'*

Barclays has stopped offering free Kaspersky anti-virus products to new customers following an official warning about Russian security software. The bank emailed 290,000 online banking customers on Saturday to say the move was a "precautionary decision". UK cyber-security chiefs are warning government departments not to use software from Russian companies for systems relating to national security.

Barclays said it treated the security of its customers "very seriously". A spokesman for Kaspersky said it was "disappointed" that Barclays had discontinued its offer to new customers. The National Cyber Security Centre - the UK's authority on cybersecurity and part of GCHQ - is writing to all government departments telling them Russian security software could be exploited by the Kremlin.

But officials stressed they were not saying members of the public or companies should stop using Kaspersky products, which are used by about 400 million people globally.