Written By Lisa Murimi
In a significant shift, Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Labs has announced its withdrawal from the US market following a ban on its software by the Biden administration.
The decision, described by Kaspersky as “sad and difficult,” was prompted by a recent move from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who cited concerns over Moscow’s potential influence on the firm as a substantial risk to US infrastructure and services.
Effective from July 20, 2024, Kaspersky will begin winding down its US operations, terminating US-based positions, and ceasing sales of its antivirus and cybersecurity tools on its US website. A statement on the site now reads, “purchase is unavailable for US customers.”
Kaspersky, which has operated in the US for two decades, has consistently denied the allegations of posing a security threat. Despite this, the US Commerce Department emphasized that the ban is necessary due to Russia’s capability and intention to misuse American personal information.
This ruling, leveraging powers introduced during the Trump administration, restricts Kaspersky from selling or updating its software in the US from September 29, with new business activities curbed within 30 days of the announcement. Violators of these restrictions will face fines.
Kaspersky, headquartered in Moscow and operating in 31 countries, serves over 400 million users globally. The company plans to explore all legal avenues to contest the ban.
