Nearly a month after being blacklisted, the Russian antivirus giant, Kaspersky Lab, has announced it is shutting down its entire US business, laying off its American workforce in the process.
The shutdown starts July 20th, which means no more sales of new Kaspersky software in the US. Existing customers won’t receive security updates thereafter.
The decision follows accusations from the Biden administration that Kaspersky has ties to the Russian government, potentially exposing US consumers to espionage. This echoes ongoing concerns about Chinese tech companies like TikTok.
Kaspersky initially planned to fight the ban, but according to Zero Day, the company has reversed course. In a statement, they called the closure a “sad and difficult decision,” citing the “no longer viable” business environment created by the ban. Less than 50 US employees will be affected by the layoffs.
The US government justified the ban on national security grounds. The Commerce Department claims Kaspersky’s Russian roots pose a risk, given Russia’s well-documented cyberwarfare capabilities and potential influence over the company.
“Russia has a proven track record of weaponizing its companies,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “We’ll continue to safeguard American security with every tool at our disposal.”
However, it’s important to note that Kaspersky can still sell its products to American consumers until the July 20th deadline. This applies to both individuals and businesses.
That said, the US government has made its position abundantly clear: anyone who chooses to use Kaspersky software after the ban does so at their own risk. There will be no security updates from that point forward, leaving users potentially vulnerable to future threats.
