The Biden administration announced on Thursday that it plans to ban the sale of antivirus software made by Russia’s Kaspersky Lab in the United States. The decision comes because the company has many important customers in the US, including critical infrastructure providers and government agencies.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo explained that Moscow’s influence over Kaspersky Lab poses a significant risk. The software’s deep access to computer systems could allow it to steal sensitive information or install harmful software. This concern has led to the decision to take action against Kaspersky.
In the past, Kaspersky has said it is a privately managed company with no ties to the Russian government. However, the US government has been cautious about the company’s potential connections to Russian intelligence. In 2017, the Department of Homeland Security banned Kaspersky’s antivirus product from federal networks due to these concerns.
Under the new rules, the sale, download, resale, and licensing of Kaspersky software will be prohibited starting September 29, which is 100 days after the announcement. This gives businesses time to find alternative antivirus solutions. New US business with Kaspersky will be blocked 30 days after the restrictions are announced.
In addition to banning the software sales, the Biden administration will add three units of Kaspersky Lab to a trade restriction list. This list prevents US suppliers from selling to these units, which could harm Kaspersky’s reputation and overseas sales.
Senator Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, supported the move, stating that it would be unwise to allow software with deep access to American devices to be controlled by an adversarial nation.
Companies that violate the new restrictions will face fines from the Commerce Department. If violations are willful, the Justice Department can bring criminal charges. While software users will not face legal penalties, they will be strongly encouraged to stop using Kaspersky products.
Kaspersky Lab, which has operations in Massachusetts and is a British holding company, reported $752 million in revenue in 2022 from over 220,000 corporate clients worldwide. The company’s clients include major organizations like Piaggio, Volkswagen’s retail division in Spain, and the Qatar Olympic Committee. Kaspersky and the Russian Embassy did not respond to requests for comments on the new restrictions.
The Biden administration’s decision to ban Kaspersky Lab’s antivirus software is part of a broader effort to protect US networks from potential cyber threats and to limit Russian influence, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The new rules reflect growing concerns over cybersecurity and the need to safeguard sensitive information from foreign adversaries.
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