The US government has recently made a bold move to ban the sale of antivirus software produced by Russian company Kaspersky, citing concerns over its alleged ties to the Kremlin. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized that Moscow’s influence over the company posed a significant risk to US infrastructure and services, prompting the decision.
Effective immediately, Kaspersky will no longer be able to sell software or provide updates within the US. Violators of these restrictions will face fines from the Commerce Department, and specific units of Kaspersky are being singled out for alleged cooperation with Russian military intelligence.
While Kaspersky has denied any ties to the Russian government in the past, the US has been wary of its operations. This ban will impact a significant number of customers, including state and local governments, as well as companies in crucial industries like telecommunications, power, and healthcare.