The United States has banned the Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky from offering its popular antivirus products within the country, the US Commerce Department announced on Thursday.
“Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to sell its software in the United States or provide updates to existing software,” the agency stated, marking a significant and unprecedented move.
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo explained the decision: “Russia has repeatedly demonstrated its capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to gather and weaponize sensitive US information.”
The Commerce Department emphasized that this action sends a clear message to America’s adversaries: the US will not hesitate to take action when foreign technology poses a risk to national security.
Kaspersky, headquartered in Moscow, operates in 31 countries and serves over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients globally.
In addition to banning Kaspersky’s antivirus software, the Commerce Department has added three entities associated with the firm to a list of companies identified as national security concerns. These entities are accused of collaborating with Russian military and intelligence agencies to support the Russian government’s cyber intelligence operations.
The department has strongly encouraged users to switch to other vendors, though it does not prohibit them from continuing to use Kaspersky software if they choose. Kaspersky will be allowed to provide antivirus updates in the US until September 29, 2024, to minimize disruption and give consumers and businesses time to find alternatives.
