Security News > 2024 > June > Biden bans Kaspersky antivirus software in US over security concerns
Today, the Biden administration has announced an upcoming ban of Kaspersky antivirus software and the pushing of software updates to US companies and consumers, giving customers until September 29, 2024, to find alternative security software.
"Today, the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security announced a Final Determination prohibiting Kaspersky Lab, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of a Russia-based anti-virus software and cybersecurity company, from directly or indirectly providing anti-virus software and cybersecurity products or services in the United States or to U.S. persons," reads a new announcement from the US BIS agency.
The US government believes that Russian FSB agents or other Kaspersky insiders used Kaspersky antivirus as an interactive search engine to scan computers worldwide for files of interest.
At midnight ET on September 29, 2024, Kaspersky or any of its agents are prohibited from distributing software and antivirus updates to customers and operating its Kaspersky Security Network in the United States or on any US person's systems.
While the government states that they will not pursue legal action against any US individuals continuing to use Kaspersky software after these deadlines, they will be using the software at their own risk.
In addition to the ban, the BIS has added three entities associated with Kaspersky-AO Kaspersky Lab, OOO Kaspersky Group, and Kaspersky Labs Limited- to the Entity List for alleged cooperation with the Russian government.