US to Ban Sale of Kaspersky Software in the US for National Security Reasons

TapTechNews June 21st news, according to CCTV News and Reuters, on the 20th local time, the US government announced plans to sell the anti-virus software produced by Russia's Kaspersky Lab in the US. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that out of consideration for US national security, the government will take measures toprohibit US companies and citizens from using the products developed by the Russian anti-virus software company Kaspersky.

Raimondo said that the US government will take actions to prohibit Kaspersky Lab and all its affiliated companies, subsidiaries, and parent companies from providing network security and anti-virus software in the US, and add the three Kaspersky-related entities to the 'Entity List' to make it unable to sell or update software in the US.

Kaspersky responded that it believes that the US made this decision based on the current geopolitical environment and theoretical concerns, not a comprehensive assessment of the integrity of Kaspersky's products and services.

In an email statement, Kaspersky added that its activities do not pose a threat to US national security and will seek legal channels to safeguard its operations. Previously, Kaspersky had said that it is a privately managed company and has no relationship with the Russian government.

TapTechNews learned that the new restrictions on the entry and sale of Kaspersky software will take effect on September 29 - that is, 100 days after the introduction of this ban. By then, actions such as downloading software updates, reselling, and licensing products will all be prohibited. Reuters quoted informed sources as saying that the sale of private-labeled products (that is, software integrated with Kaspersky's products sold under different brand names) will also be prohibited.