- The US government bans the Russian antivirus software Kaspersky due to security concerns.
- The sale of Kaspersky software to businesses and consumers in the United States will be immediately prohibited.
- The US fears that the Russian government could use the software to gain access to information.
A detailed investigation has shown that banning the anti-virus software is the only way to address national security concerns, a sub-agency of the US Department of Commerce said on Thursday.
Software updates are also prohibited
In addition to the sales ban, Kaspersky will also no longer be allowed to install updates for existing users from September 29. These allow the software to prepare for new threats, for example. The transition period is intended to give customers time to switch to other providers, explained the Office for Industry and Security.
Legend:
The sale and software updates of the Russian antivirus software Kaspersky are banned in the USA due to security concerns.
Reuters/Albert Gea (archive)
The reason for the ban is the Russian government’s cyberattack capabilities and their ability to influence Kaspersky’s activities. The company’s software is capable of collecting information from US companies and citizens that could be misused by the Russian government, the agency warned.
Kaspersky banned by various government agencies
Kaspersky, once an internationally respected specialist in PC security, has had a difficult time in the West for years. In the USA, installation on government devices has been banned since 2017, and in Germany the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) warns against using the software. Kaspersky has always rejected all allegations and in particular denied any connections to Russian secret services.