The recent removal of Kaspersky’s official Android app from the Google Play Store marks a significant setback for the cybersecurity firm. According to reports from BleepingComputer, this action took place over the weekend, coinciding with the disabling of Kaspersky’s developer accounts. This development follows a series of challenges faced by the company due to sanctions imposed by the US government.
Investigation Underway
In a post on its official forums, Kaspersky acknowledged the situation and indicated that it is actively investigating the reasons behind the unavailability of its software on the Google Play Store. A representative stated, “The downloads and updates of Kaspersky products are temporarily unavailable on the Google Play store.” The company is exploring potential solutions to ensure that users can continue to access and update their applications.
For those affected, Kaspersky has provided alternative options for downloading its apps. Users can still find Kaspersky products on various alternative app stores, including:
- Galaxy Store
- Huawei AppGallery
- Xiaomi GetApps
Additionally, users have the option to download the .apk installation files directly from Kaspersky’s official website.
Ongoing Challenges for Kaspersky
This incident is part of a broader trend of difficulties for Kaspersky, which has been grappling with increasing scrutiny and sanctions in recent months. The US government has expressed concerns regarding the potential for Kaspersky’s software to be exploited by the Russian government, leading to a full ban on the sale of its products that is set to take effect on July 20, 2024. Kaspersky was placed on the US Entity List, which identifies foreign entities considered a national security risk.
Following the ban, updates to Kaspersky software were halted as of September 29. However, the company has attempted to mitigate the impact on its customers by offering free security products and safety tips for a period of six months. The situation became more contentious in September 2024 when US customers reported that their antivirus software was unexpectedly replaced with a new solution named UltraAV.
