Russian antivirus leader Kaspersky Labs has confirmed it will leave the US market after the Biden administration banned its software sales and distribution.
Kaspersky called the decision “sad and difficult,” citing a lack of business opportunities in the US. This follows Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s statement last month, which said Moscow’s influence over Kaspersky posed a risk to US infrastructure. Kaspersky, active in the US for two decades, denies these claims.
Starting July 20, 2024, Kaspersky will begin closing its US operations and cutting US-based jobs. The firm’s US website has stopped selling its antivirus and cybersecurity tools, with a message saying, “purchase is unavailable for US customers.”
The ban, which took effect on September 29, stops Kaspersky from selling or updating its software in the US. Raimondo said the move was necessary to prevent Russia from collecting and using Americans’ personal information.
The Commerce Department stated that the ban also prohibits resales and licensing of Kaspersky products. Sellers and resellers who break these rules will face fines.
Headquartered in Moscow, Kaspersky operates in 31 countries, serving over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients worldwide. Despite the ban, Kaspersky plans to use all legal options to challenge the decision, insisting it poses no threat to US security.