Kaspersky once had a good international reputation for virus protection. But concerns that the program could be a gateway for Russian secret services have now led to its closure in the USA.
The US government is banning the Russian antivirus software Kaspersky. A detailed investigation has shown that this is the only way to allay national security concerns, a sub-agency of the US Department of Commerce said.
The sale of Kaspersky software to companies and consumers in the USA will be prohibited from July 20th. From September 29th, Kaspersky will also no longer be allowed to install updates – this would make the software largely useless against new threats. The transition period should give customers time to switch to other providers, explained the Bureau of Industry and Security.
The reason for the ban is the Russian government’s cyberattack capabilities and their ability to influence Kaspersky’s activities. The company’s software is capable of collecting information from US companies and citizens that could be misused by the Russian government, the agency warned.
Kaspersky, once an internationally respected specialist in PC security, has had a difficult time in the West for years. In the USA, installation on government devices has been banned since 2017, and in Germany the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) warns against using the software. Kaspersky has always rejected all allegations and in particular denied any connections to Russian secret services.
Source: Stern
