The Biden administration has announced a complete ban on Kaspersky in the country. This means that the Russian-origin antivirus software will no longer be available for sale to private and corporate customers after July 20. Existing users will still be able to receive updates, but only until Sept. 29.
The Department of Commerce made this decision after a thorough investigation, considering all options. Commerce officials concluded that Kaspersky posed “undue or unacceptable” security risks to U.S. citizens.
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The recent final ruling stated that the decision isn’t based on the ability of Kaspersky's to combat malware, but rather on certain features that could be exploited by a foreign adversary, specifically Russia, to harm the U.S. strategically.
The Department of Commerce contends that because Kaspersky is under Russian jurisdiction, the company is required to comply with any requests for assistance or information from the Kremlin. This includes requests from Russia’s Federal Security Service and intelligence agencies.
The investigation has determined that Kaspersky’s software could potentially be used to expose U.S. customer data to the Russian government. This is concerning as its antivirus software is widely used in private computers and critical infrastructure systems.
It’s not clear what economic impact this measure will have on Kaspersky. However, it’s known that U.S. authorities plan to sanction those who attempt to sell any of the company’s products after the deadlines, including “white-labeled products” (i.e. products marketed under other brands).
Users, on the other hand, won’t be penalized for using Kaspersky software, but they will stop receiving updates in three months and will no longer have the option to renew their licenses. The Department of Commerce recommends that Kaspersky customers switch to an alternative immediately.
Kaspersky responded promptly to the measures from the White House. In a statement, the company said that the decision was made “based on the present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns” rather than having the security of its products independently verified by trusted external parties.
Image | Paul Weaver | Kaspersky
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