Kaspersky, the leading anti-virus provider, is facing significant regulatory changes in the United States. Starting July 20, 2024, the US government will ban Kaspersky from selling its products to new customers within the country. Existing customers will cease to receive software updates after September 29, 2024. This move is part of a broader effort by the US Department of Commerce to mitigate perceived national security risks associated with the Russian-based company.
Why is this happening?
The primary reason for the ban is the alleged cooperation between Kaspersky and the Russian government and concerns over what and how much data the software collects. The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has cited concerns that Kaspersky's products could be used to collect and exploit sensitive information from US businesses and individuals.
According to the reports, Kaspersky Lab’s software products are used by more than 400 million people and 240,000 companies worldwide. It is unclear how many of these are in the United States.
It is important to note that these are all allegations, and Kaspersky has fully denied all related allegations.
What does this mean for customers?
Kaspersky is providing free security products for six months and offering tips for staying safe as a parting gift to consumers in the United States.
For customers currently using Kaspersky’s cybersecurity solutions in the US, it's important to allow enough time to search for a new provider to avoid being left without security solutions once the company stops operating in the US.
After the September deadline, customers will also no longer receive automatic software updates. It's crucial for users to manually update the software to avoid operating with vulnerabilities. Hackers are likely to exploit this situation and might target US users of the software because of potential vulnerabilities.
It's also important to note that hackers could take advantage of this situation by creating fake campaigns with alternative ‘free’ solutions that are actually embedded with malware. People searching for new solutions should remain vigilant, and only opt for trusted alternatives.
For more information on how we protect individuals and businesses from cyber threats, visit our product/solutions pages or email us info@dynarisk.com