WASHINGTON: The United States has banned Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky from offering its popular anti-virus products in the country, the US Commerce Department said.
“Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to sell its software within the United States or provide updates to existing software,” the Commerce Department stated, calling the action the first of its kind.
Kaspersky plans to pursue “all legally available options” to challenge the ban and denies any activities threatening US security.
The ban utilizes broad powers established by the US government to restrict transactions between US firms and tech companies from “foreign adversary” nations like Russia and China. The plan will prevent software updates, resales, and licensing of Kaspersky products from September 29, with new business restricted within 30 days of the announcement. Violators will face fines from the Commerce Department.
Additionally, the Commerce Department will list two Russian and one UK-based Kaspersky units for allegedly cooperating with Russian military intelligence. Kaspersky has been a target for US regulators since 2017 when the Department of Homeland Security banned its antivirus product from federal networks due to alleged ties to Russian intelligence.
Headquartered in Moscow, Kaspersky operates in 31 countries, serving over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients in more than 200 countries, according to the Commerce Department. The exact number of US customers affected is classified, but a Commerce Department official told Reuters that it includes a “significant number” of state and local governments, as well as companies in telecommunications, power, and healthcare.
