Russian cyber attacks possible
USA bans Kaspersky virus protection
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Kaspersky once had a good international reputation for virus protection. But for years there have been fears that the program could be a gateway for Russian secret services. The US government is now pulling the plug.
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 will 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) has been warning against the use of the software since summer 2022. “A Russian IT manufacturer can carry out offensive operations itself, be forced to attack target systems against its will, or be spied on as a victim of a cyber operation without its knowledge or be misused as a tool for attacks against its own customers,” said the BSI. Kaspersky has always denied all allegations and in particular denied any connections to Russian secret services.
