The US government recently announced plans to ban the sale of antivirus software made by Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, citing alleged links to the Kremlin. The ban is a result of concerns over Moscow’s influence on the company, which poses a significant risk to US infrastructure and services.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stated that Russia’s “capacity and intent to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans” prompted the US to take action. Effective immediately, Kaspersky will no longer be allowed to sell its software within the United States or provide updates to existing software.
The ban is part of broader powers granted by the Trump administration to restrict transactions between US companies and tech firms from “foreign adversary” nations like Russia and China. The restrictions will prevent downloads of software updates, resales, and licensing of Kaspersky products starting from September 29th, with new business transactions being restricted within 30 days of the announcement.
Companies and resellers found violating the ban will face fines from the Commerce Department, which will also list two Russian and one UK-based unit of Kaspersky for allegedly cooperating with Russian military intelligence. Notably, the ban is not the first time Kaspersky has faced regulatory scrutiny in the US. In 2017, the Department of Homeland Security banned the firm’s flagship antivirus product from federal networks due to alleged ties to Russian intelligence.
Despite Kaspersky claiming to be privately managed with no government ties, the ban will impact a significant number of customers in the US, including state and local governments, as well as companies in the telecommunications, power, and healthcare sectors. The ban serves as a reminder of the ongoing concerns and scrutiny surrounding foreign cybersecurity firms operating in the US market.
