US Bans Sales Of Kaspersky Antivirus Software

The United States has banned the sale, resale, and licensing of Kaspersky Antivirus Software within the country. The Joe Biden-led administration made this move against the Russian firm Kaspersky due to its alleged links to the Kremlin. The company can provide service to existing customers until September 29. However, Kaspersky is prohibited from entering into any new agreements after July 20.

Gina Raimondo, US Commerce Secretary, stated that Russia's influence over Kaspersky was found to pose a significant risk to the US. Gina Raimondo also added that Russia has the "capability and intent" to exploit Russian companies to collect and weaponise sensitive US information. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said that Kaspersky’s provision of cybersecurity and anti-virus software poses "undue and unacceptable risks to US national security and to the security and safety of US persons." The department will also impose fines on sellers and resellers who break the latest restriction.

Apart from the ban, the US will also list three entities linked to the firm for allegedly cooperating with Russian military intelligence. In 2017, the US Department of Homeland Security banned Kaspersky's antivirus product from federal networks. Meanwhile, Kaspersky has responded to the ban and reportedly said that the US made this decision based on the "present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns."