President Biden banned sales of Kaspersky Lab antivirus products in the US from July

The administration of US President Joe Biden announced a ban on the sale of anti-virus products of the Russian company Kaspersky Lab in the country.

Here's What We Know

New customers will not be able to purchase products starting in July, while current customers will lose support after September. The decision was the result of longstanding concerns about the company's ties to the Russian government and a potential threat to national security.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said current Kaspersky Lab customers were not legally responsible, but urged them to immediately switch to alternative software to protect personal data and family safety.

"Kaspersky Lab has long been in the crosshairs of cybersecurity issues. In 2017, its products were banned for use in US federal agencies, and in 2022 the company was placed on a list of organisations that pose a security risk.

The measure is part of a broader US policy to restrict access to technology from countries deemed foreign adversaries that began back under the Trump administration.

Source: Reuters