Kaspersky Anti-virus Banned In USA

Russian Anti-virus software, Kaspersky, is banned in the USA, according to an announcement by the Joe Biden administration.

This decision was disclosed on Thursday following years of serious rivalry between the two countries.

“Russia has shown it has the capacity, and even more than that, the intent to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans,” said Gina Raimondo, the U.S. Commerce Secretary on Thursday while speaking to reporters.

According to the United States, Russia’s constitution gives the Russian government access to the company’s computers and thereby puts American citizens at risk of espionage. The company has been stopped from selling their products to United States citizens.

“Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the United States or provide updates to software already in use,” said Raimondo for the U.S. Commerce Department.

This is not the first time Kaspersky Lab, the maker of Kaspersky softwares, is facing rejection within the United States. In 2017, the United States stopped all their federal government agencies from patronising the company.

However, what is coming this time is bigger. All transactions between the company and their United States customers are scheduled to be stopped entirely on September 29.

The number of subscribers this major step will snatch from the company’s hands is classified data, but a good number of people in the United States have been using their services.

Speaking on the development, Alejandro Mayorkas who is Secretary to the United States Homeland Security said, “The actions taken today are vital to our national security and will better protect the personal information and privacy of many Americans. We will continue to work with the Department of Commerce, state and local officials, and critical infrastructure operators to protect our nation’s most vital systems and assets.”

This ban promises to cause a global ripple which can affect how Kaspersky softwares are received in other countries. Allies of the United States might join the train to protect their own data against their common enemy. A drop in subscribers from the West, which now looks like a possibility, will reduce the earnings of the company by a large margin. Many who see the United States as an authority in technology could be moved by some things the government said.

“I would encourage you in the strongest possible terms to immediately stop using that software and switch to an alternative in order to protect yourself, your data, and your family,” the United States Commerce Department Secretary, Raimondo, adviced on Thursday.

However, the company has issued a prompt statement denying any wrongdoing.

“Kaspersky does not engage in activities which threaten U.S. national security and, in fact, has made significant contributions with its reporting and protection from a variety of threat actors that targeted U.S. interests and allies. The company intends to pursue all legally available options to preserve its current operations and relationships,” the company wrote on their website.

One thing is certain: Kaspersky antivirus and their other softwares will likely stay banned forever in the USA.