In a development the US government has made a decision to ban the sale and usage of Kaspersky antivirus software, across the country starting July 2024. This action follows a two year investigation on security conducted by the Department of Commerce which found that the cybersecurity company based in Moscow poses a potential threat, to US national security.
Gina Raimondo, the US Commerce Secretary expressed concerns that the Russian government could potentially misuse Kasperskys software to inject malware, hinder security updates and access data from users. The ban, authorized under a 2018 national defense legislation act is aimed at safeguarding US businesses and individuals from these identified risks.
Kaspersky Denies Allegations
Kaspersky strongly refutes the accusations made by the US government with CEO Eugene Kaspersky dismissing reports as motivated propaganda. The company asserts that the decision is driven by factors, than a technical evaluation of its products. In response to the ban Kaspersky has pledged to explore all avenues to safeguard its business and reputation.
The prohibition on Kaspersky antivirus software marks the action in a series of measures taken by the US government against the cybersecurity company. In 2017 Kasperskys software was barred from use in US government agencies and in 2022 the company was placed on the Federal Communications Commissions list of security threats. With the deadline, in July 2024 US enterprises and consumers utilizing Kasperskys products will need to seek cybersecurity solutions for safeguarding their data and systems.