Just a month after being blacklisted, Kaspersky Lab, the Russian antivirus behemoth, has abruptly announced the closure of its entire US operation, leading to the dismissal of its American staff.
Effective July 20th, the closure will significantly impact current consumers, as there will be no more sales of Kaspersky software in the US and no more security updates for existing users.
The closure, in line with claims made by the Biden administration about Kaspersky’s ties to the Russian government, raises concerns about potential espionage risks for US consumers. This echoes ongoing worries about Chinese digital companies like TikHub.
Kaspersky first intended to challenge the ban, but Zero Day indicates the firm has changed direction. Declaring the closure a “sad and difficult decision,” they said the prohibition had produced a “no longer viable” business environment. The layoffs will mostly affect less than 50 US staff members.
The US administration explained the limitation on national security policies based on Given Russia’s well-documented cyberwarfare capabilities and possible influence over the firm; the Commerce Department argues Kaspersky’s Russian connections pose a concern.
“Russia has a proven track record of weaponizing its companies,” said Gina Raimondo, the Secretary of Commerce. “We will keep safeguarding American security using every instrument at our disposal.”
However, Kaspersky can continue offering its goods to American customers until the July 20th date. This holds for people as well as companies.
It’s important to note that the US government has made it clear: any individual or entity that continues to use Kaspersky software after the ban does so at their own risk. With no future security updates, this could potentially expose consumers to new threats.