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Is Kaspersky Banned in the US

The US government passed a law in July 2024 that prevents the sale of all Kaspersky software. The ban also means Kaspersky cannot be updated on computers that already have it installed.

 

As a result of this move, Kaspersky—a Russian company headquartered in Moscow—has permanently closed its United States business and laid off all workers. In this article, we’ll explain what led to the ban of its software, why it matters, and whether you should trust Kaspersky going forward.

Before we begin:

 

If you’re looking for a comprehensive security solution that will keep your Mac free from dangerous viruses and malware, check out MacKeeper’s Antivirus. With real-time protection, it can identify and block threats as soon as they infect your device, and remove any existing malicious software.

 

Try this:

  1. Download and install MacKeeper.
  2. Select Antivirus in the MacKeeper sidebar, then click Launch Antivirus.
  3. Follow the steps to enable full protection.
  4. Click the Start Scan button to detect any viruses on your Mac.
  5. If existing threats are found, select them, then click Move to Quarantine.
  6. Restart MacKeeper when prompted, then when it reopens, click Delete.

Why Kaspersky ban matters

You’ve likely heard of Kaspersky in the past, but few people realize quite how widespread its security solutions have become since its initial release in 2000. With offices in 31 countries, Kaspersky is a truly multinational company, and it serves an estimated 400 million customers in over 200 regions.

 

A 2023 report from Kaspersky indicated that its software was installed on “more than a million endpoints” in the United States alone, while analysis from Bitsight suggests that Kaspersky was utilized by nearly 25% of Fortune 1000 companies as of July 2024. More notably, Bitsight found that “dozens” of US government organizations, including multiple federal agencies, were still relying on Kaspersky security products despite a multi-year federal agency ban.

 

Given how widespread Kaspersky is, the decision to ban it by the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is incredibly significant. It not only means that Kaspersky products can no longer be sold in the US or to US citizens, but it also prevents existing customers from receiving updates.

What led to Kaspersky ban in US?

The trustworthiness of Kaspersky has been called into question following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As the attack has continued, Ukraine’s allies have naturally grown more concerned about the potential threats posed by Russian software.

 

The latest developments in the US can be attributed to two major factors:

1. Government concerns and security risks

Kaspersky has always denied that it’s influenced or controlled by the Russian government, and its main data processing infrastructure is in Switzerland, far from its headquarters in Moscow. However, US officials are concerned that the situation could change.

 

US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo explained that Russia’s increasing cyber capabilities and its government’s power puts Kaspersky users and their data at risk. Raimondo suggested that Russia could use its authority to obtain and abuse that data and access sensitive information.

 

Although no other country has issued a complete ban on Kaspersky, many others have prohibited the software from being deployed on government computers, or issued warnings against its use.

2. Official statements and legal action

While announcing Kaspersky was outlawed in the US, the BIS issued a statement that said its decision was the result of a lengthy investigation that found Kaspersky’s “continued operations in the United States presented a national security risk” because of Russia’s “offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kaspersky’s operations.”

 

Its statement continued, “Any individual or business that continues to use Kaspersky products and services assumes all the cybersecurity and associated risks of doing so.”

 

Kaspersky initially said it would fight the ban in court, but after it “carefully examined and evaluated the impact of the US legal requirements,” it decided ongoing operation in the US was “no longer viable” and therefore closed its operations.

Can Kaspersky be trusted?

Despite government restrictions, independent testing organizations like AV-Test and AV-Comparatives have always ranked Kaspersky’s product among the best Mac security software. The latest analysis from AV-Test gave Kaspersky a 100% rating for effectiveness against malware infections. But you should be cautious.

 

The reason Kaspersky has frequently been subject to government restrictions is its alleged ties to Russian intelligence. And there’s no telling how much control Russia could have over Kaspersky in the future. As its relationship with the rest of the world deteriorates, there is a risk, as the BIS stated, that the Kremlin could use its power to force Kaspersky into handing over valuable user information.

Should you stop using Kaspersky?

If you’re an existing user, you might be wondering whether you should stop using the software with Kaspersky banned in the US, and we advise against it for the following reasons:

  • Ties to Russian intelligence: Since 2017, various reports have claimed that Kaspersky provides information to Russian government agencies. It’s also alleged the company took an NSA hacking tool from an American computer and provided it to the Kremlin.
  • Russia’s potential power over businesses: Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US government has warned some organizations that the Kremlin could use its power to manipulate Kaspersky into handing over personal user data.
  • No support in US: Kaspersky outlawed in the US means that users will receive no future updates, which will make the software less effective over time.

Important: 

 

You might be asking, does a MacBook need antivirus? Well, cybersecurity protection is a necessity, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. MacKeeper’s Antivirus utility comes built-in as standard, providing real-time protection against all malware and antivirus threats. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Open MacKeeper and select Antivirus.
  2. Click Start Scan.
  3. If viruses are found, select them, then click Move to Quarantine.
  4. Click the Restart button when prompted.
  5. When MacKeeper reopens, select Delete to permanently remove all threats.
The built-in Antivirus tool in MacKeeper on Mac. Now that Kaspersky is banned in the US, MacKeeper's Antivirus is a great way to give your Mac real-time protection against malware and viruses.
Step 1. Choose Antivirus, then click Start Scan
The built-in Antivirus tool in MacKeeper on Mac. Use this to find and remove any threats on your Mac now that Kaspersky is banned in the US.
Step 2. Select any threats, then click Move to Quarantine
The built-in Antivirus tool in MacKeeper on Mac. If your machine is infected, you can use MacKeeper's Antivirus to find and remove the infections now that Kaspersky is banned in the US
Step 3. Click Restart when prompted
The built-in Antivirus tool in MacKeeper on Mac. If any threats are found on your Mac, you can remove them with MacKeeper's Antirivus now that Kaspersky is banned in the US.
Step 4. Click Delete to remove all viruses

Conclusion

While there’s no denying that Kaspersky is an effective cybersecurity solution, there are genuine concerns over whether it can be trusted. Given that it’s headquartered in Russia, many countries fear it could be forced to provide sensitive information to the Kremlin that could impact national security.

 

We recommend that users avoid using Kaspersky wherever they live, especially in the US, where the software will no longer receive important updates. Instead, switch to MacKeeper’s Antivirus for complete Mac security that will protect your device from malware, ransomware, and other dangerous attacks.

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