The Biden administration prohibits Kaspersky from delivering services to the U.S.

Businesses and consumers in the United States are no longer allowed to buy anti-virus software and cybersecurity products from Kaspersky Lab Inc.

The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has added Kaspersky Lab, Kaspersky Group and Kaspersky Lab Limited to the so-called Entity List. American entrepreneurs and citizens are prohibited from doing business with companies that are on this list.

It also means that Kaspersky, affiliates, subsidiaries and parent companies can no longer sell anti-virus software within the United States. The same goes for rolling out updates and patches for AV-programs.

According to BIS, Kaspersky poses a national security risk for the United States because of their ties with Russian military and intelligence agencies. A prohibition of all Kaspersky services is the only way to diminish the Russian government’s offensive cybersecurity capabilities and goals.

U.S. businesses and citizens are recommended to find alternative AV-software to protect their data and company network. If they continue to use Kaspersky’s services, they won’t be fined, but also won’t receive any updates in the future.

‘America is safer today’

“Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive U.S. information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard U.S. national security and the American people,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo says in a statement.

“With today’s action, the American cyber ecosystem is safer and more secure than it was yesterday. We will not hesitate to protect U.S. individuals and businesses from Russia or other malign actors who seek to weaponize technology that is supposed to protect its users,” Undersecretary for Industry and Security Alan Estevez adds.

Kaspersky calls BIS’ decision unfair. “Kaspersky believes that the Department of Commerce made its decision based on the present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns, rather than on a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of Kaspersky’s products and services,” the company says in a statement.

Furthermore, the company adds, “Kaspersky does not engage in activities which threaten U.S. national security and, in fact, has made significant contributions with its reporting and protection from a variety of threat actors that targeted U.S. interests and allies”.

To make sure entrepreneurs and citizens have plenty of time to find an alternative anti-virus vendor, the Kasperksy ban goes into effect on Sunday September 29 2024.

Kaspersky is a Russian cybersecurity and anti-virus provider that develops and sells anti-virus programs, internet security, password management solutions and dark web monitoring services.

The company has offices in 31 countries and is active in over 200 countries, providing anti-virus products and services to over 400 million users and 220,000 corporate clients worldwide.