By 
The U.S. government announced on Thursday a ban on the sale of Kaspersky antivirus software within the country, urging current users to switch to alternative providers. The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) implemented this “first of its kind” ban, citing concerns over national security and user privacy due to Kaspersky’s Russian origins.
“Russia has demonstrated both the capability and intent to exploit companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize personal information of Americans. Therefore, we are compelled to take this action,” stated U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in a press call.
Starting July 20, Kaspersky will be prohibited from selling its software to American consumers and businesses. However, the company is allowed to provide software and security updates to existing customers until September 29. After this date, Kaspersky will no longer be permitted to push software updates to U.S. customers, according to Raimondo.
“Your software and services will degrade. That’s why I strongly recommend you immediately find an alternative to Kaspersky,” Raimondo advised.
She clarified that U.S. consumers using Kaspersky’s antivirus are not breaking the law. “U.S. individuals and businesses with existing Kaspersky products are not in violation of the law and will not face criminal or civil penalties,” Raimondo said. “However, I strongly encourage you to stop using the software and switch to an alternative to protect your data and your family.”
To ensure widespread awareness, Raimondo announced that the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department will notify U.S. consumers. Additionally, a website will be established to provide affected individuals with necessary information and next steps.
A senior U.S. Commerce Department official mentioned that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will assist critical infrastructure organizations in transitioning away from Kaspersky software. The official noted that no specific actions by Kaspersky prompted the decision but asked not to be named in reports.
This ban represents the latest escalation in ongoing U.S. government actions against the Moscow-based Kaspersky. In September 2017, the Trump administration prohibited federal agencies from using Kaspersky software over concerns that the company might assist Russian intelligence agencies. Earlier that year, Russian hackers reportedly used Kaspersky’s antivirus to steal U.S. classified documents from an intelligence contractor’s home computer.
The decision to ban Kaspersky has been under consideration since last year, according to an April 2023 report by The Wall Street Journal.
Kaspersky claims over 400 million individual customers and 240,000 corporate clients globally. While the exact number of U.S. customers is undisclosed, a senior official confirmed that it includes critical infrastructure organizations and state and local government entities.
Comments