Palo Alto, Fortinet among software companies banned in China, Reuters says

Chinese authorities have told domestic companies to stop using cybersecurity software made by a dozen companies from the U.S. and Israel due to national security concerns, Reuters reports, citing two people briefed on the matter. Broadcom’s (AVGO) VMware, Palo Alto Networks (PANW), and Fortinet (FTNT) are among the U.S. firms whose cybersecurity software has been banned, while Check Point Software (CHKP) is among the Israeli companies, sources told Reuters. The news agency was not able to establish how many Chinese companies received the notice, which its sources said was issued in recent days. Chinese authorities expressed concern that the software could collect and transmit confidential information abroad, said the sources.