Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- The US Commerce Department has barred the sale of cybersecurity products made by Russia-based Kaspersky Labs in the United States.
- This decision was made due to concerns over the company’s ties to the Russian government posing national security risks.
On July 2, 2024, the US Commerce Department announced the prohibition of the sale of Kaspersky cybersecurity products in the United States, citing the firm’s connections to the Kremlin as a potential national security threat. The ban, which goes into effect on July 20, targets two Russia-based Kaspersky entities and one UK-based unit. The decision was made after previous bans in 2017, following allegations that Kaspersky software was used by the Russian government to steal classified information from the NSA.
Despite denying the allegations of ties to the Kremlin, Kaspersky has faced scrutiny from various Western governments, including the UK, Lithuania, Germany, and the Netherlands. This move by the US Commerce Department marks the first time that the American private sector will be prohibited from purchasing Kaspersky offerings altogether. The company will have until September 29 to cease rolling out new security updates to existing customers using its products.
This ban comes as part of a series of steps taken by US regulatory bodies in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kaspersky offers antivirus software and a threat intelligence service comparable to offerings from US providers like Microsoft and Google. The decision was made under authority granted during the Trump administration that allows the US government to restrict certain IT or communication technology transactions for national security reasons.
Overall, the prohibition of Kaspersky cybersecurity products in the US is a significant move to safeguard American customers from potential cyber threats linked to the Russian government’s influence.
