Biden Administration Bans Kaspersky Lab Products in the U.S.
The Biden administration made a groundbreaking announcement on Thursday, revealing a ban on the use of Kaspersky Lab’s antivirus software and cybersecurity products in the United States. This move, described as “first of its kind,” was initiated due to the vendor’s connections with the Russian government.
The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued the ban, stating that Kaspersky Lab and its affiliated entities will no longer be able to provide antivirus software or cybersecurity products/services to U.S. individuals or entities. The ban will take effect on September 29 at 12 a.m. Eastern time, preventing any further updates to existing software.
BIS also added three Kaspersky entities to its Entity List for their collaboration with Russian military and intelligence authorities, supporting the Russian government’s cyber intelligence objectives.
The Commerce Department did not accuse Kaspersky of any specific wrongdoing but pointed to the Russian government’s involvement. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized the administration’s commitment to national security and innovation in the face of cyber threats.
Kaspersky responded to the ban, expressing disappointment and asserting its commitment to cybersecurity. The company believes the decision was influenced by geopolitical factors rather than an evaluation of its products’ integrity.
While this ban is the first of its kind in the U.S., Kaspersky’s ties to the Kremlin have been a subject of scrutiny for years. The company faced similar restrictions in the European Union in 2018 and from the Department of Homeland Security in 2017.
Alexander Culafi is a senior information security news writer and podcast host for TechTarget Editorial.
