Kaspersky Antivirus Software Banned in US Due to Alleged Russian Influence
Kaspersky may be transferring U.S. customer data to the Russian government, according to an agency.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has prohibited Russian company Kaspersky from selling its anti-virus software and other cybersecurity products in the country due to concerns about national security risks.
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) stated in a press release on June 20 that Kaspersky Lab, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Kaspersky Lab in Moscow, poses a risk to national security due to potential exposure of customer information to the Russian Government.
Specifically, the BIS found that Kaspersky is subject to Russian government jurisdiction, making it susceptible to information requests from Moscow. This could result in the transfer of U.S. customer data to Russia, where it could be accessed by Russian authorities.
Commenting on the ban, Kaspersky criticized the Commerce Department for basing its decision on geopolitical concerns rather than on an evaluation of the integrity of its products and services. The company stated that it does not engage in activities that threaten U.S. national security and has made significant contributions to protecting U.S. interests.
Russian Cyber Threat
To mitigate the impact of the ban on Kaspersky software, the Commerce Department will allow the company to continue certain operations until September 29, 2024, including providing anti-virus updates. After this date, the company will no longer be permitted to sell or update its software in the U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo expressed concerns about Russian companies like Kaspersky being exploited to collect and weaponize sensitive U.S. information. Companies associated with Kaspersky Labs in the UK and Russia have also been added to the Entity List for their cooperation with Russian military and intelligence authorities.
