The Biden administration to ban the sale of Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software in the United States, according to a source cited by Reuters. The decision cites concerns over the company's close ties to the Russian government and the potential risk it poses to US critical infrastructure providers and state and local governments.
Earlier this year, VCPost reported that the US government has begun to distrust tech giants such as Microsoft, particularly due to instances where Russian hackers frequently bypass their security measures, often targeting government accounts.
The administration believes that Kaspersky software's deep access to computer systems could be exploited to steal sensitive information, install malware, or withhold critical updates.
The new rule will also include adding Kaspersky to a trade restriction list, which could impact its reputation and potentially affect its international sales.
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Kaspersky Sale Ban in the US
The specifics of the sales ban, which will take effect on September 29, 100 days after publication, will prevent downloads of software updates, resales, and licensing of Kaspersky products.
New US business with Kaspersky will be blocked 30 days after the restrictions are announced.
Should Kaspersky's foreign subsidiaries that depend on substantial input from the US be included in the entity list, it could severely disrupt Kaspersky's supply chain. On the other hand, if only Kaspersky, the Russian entity, were listed, the impact would primarily affect its reputation rather than its operational capabilities.
The Commerce Department has declined to comment on the matter, and Kaspersky Lab and the Russian Embassy have not responded to requests for comment. Kaspersky has previously asserted it operates as a privately managed company with no ties to the Russian government.
According to Yahoo Finance, Kaspersky remains a major player in the cybersecurity industry, generating $752 million in revenue in 2022 and serving a large client base globally.
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