US bans sales of Russia's Kaspersky antivirus software
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Kaspersky say the US Commerce Department's decision was influenced by "the present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns."
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A view of the headquarters of Kaspersky Lab, Russia's leading antivirus software development company, in Moscow on October 25, 2017. (AFP)
President Joe Biden's administration banned Thursday Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky from providing its widely-used antivirus products in the United States, citing "national security" concerns, the US Commerce Department announced.
"Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the United States or provide updates to software already in use," the Department indicated in a statement.
According to the statement, the decision follows a thorough investigation that concluded that the firm's "continued operations in the United States presented a national security risk due to the Russian Government's offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kaspersky's operations."
"Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information," claimed US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
In response, Kaspersky told AFP that the Commerce Department's decision was influenced by "the present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns," vowing to "pursue all legally available options to preserve its current operations and relationships."
The company affirmed that it "does not engage in activities which threaten US national security and, in fact, has made significant contributions with its reporting and protection from a variety of threat actors that targeted US interests and allies."
The action marks the first of its kind since an executive order issued under former President Donald Trump empowered the Commerce Department to investigate companies for "national security risks."
Raimondo emphasized that the Commerce Department's actions signal to US adversaries that it will not hesitate to act when "their technology poses a risk to the United States and its citizens."
The Commerce Department mentioned that the Moscow-based cybersecurity firm operates in 31 countries, serving over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients in more than 200 countries,
In addition to banning Kaspersky's antivirus software sales, the Commerce Department added three related entities to a list of companies identified as national security concerns "for their cooperation with Russian military and intelligence authorities in support of the Russian government's cyber intelligence objectives."
The department "strongly encouraged" users to switch to alternative vendors, though the decision does not prohibit them from continuing to use Kaspersky's software if they choose.
According to the Commerce Department, Kaspersky is permitted to provide antivirus updates and continue certain operations in the United States until September 29 this year "in order to minimize disruption to US consumers and businesses and to give them time to find suitable alternatives."
