US bans Kaspersky antivirus over security concerns tied to Russia, effective July 20

The US Department of Commerce has banned Kaspersky AntiVirus, preventing the Russia-based company from selling its security products in the US. This decision follows an investigation by the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry (BIS), which determined that Kaspersky's products pose significant security risks, citing concerns over Kaspersky's ties to the Russian government and the potential misuse of sensitive US customer information as primary reasons for the ban.

The investigation found that Kaspersky software could install malicious software and withhold critical updates, posing severe risks to US critical infrastructure. Such vulnerabilities could lead to data theft, espionage, and system malfunctions, threatening economic security and public health. This move extends a 2017 ban that prohibited Kaspersky products across all US government agencies, now including both consumer and business use.

Effective July 20, Kaspersky and its affiliates are prohibited from selling or licensing their cybersecurity products in the US. By September 29, resellers and third-party developers will also be barred from selling or integrating Kaspersky software. Current Kaspersky users in the US have until September 29 to transition to alternative solutions, including popular options like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Avast Free Antivirus, Bitdefender Antivirus and more.