How the Kaspersky ban affects you and how to protect your data

sakib40 · Post by **sakib40** » Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:06 am

The US will ban Kaspersky Lab's software and services starting(new window)September 29, 2024, stating that this is due to national security concerns over potential Russian government influence and cyber threats. This means the sale and provisioning of software updates of any Kaspersky products will be prohibited in the United States and to US citizens. The US government advised customers to switch to other cybersecurity solutions, although there won't cambodia phone number data be any legal penalties to those who continue to use Kaspersky products.

This article briefly summarizes the Kaspersky ban and looks at whether Kaspersky is safe. If you choose to avoid Kaspersky products, we offer some secure alternative solutions to protect your network against surveillance and data breaches.

What is Kaspersky Lab?
Kaspersky is a popular developer of antivirus software and cybersecurity services based in Moscow and with offices around the world. The company has denied allegations from the US and other countries that it has ties to Russian government surveillance.

Is Kaspersky safe?
Nothing has ever come to light suggesting Kaspersky is unsafe, and there is no proof that Kaspersky has ties to the Russian government. However, the many bans and restrictions on Kaspersky could result in security vulnerabilities that are not patched. Hackers will be looking to exploit outdated Kaspersky software as a result of these bans.

In addition to the US, the following countries have banned or restricted the use of Kaspersky products due to stated privacy and security concerns:

Canada (October 2023) banned(new window)Kaspersky from government mobile devices.
Romania (December 2022) banned(new window)Kaspersky and other Russian security solutions from public institutions and private IT institutions with classified information.
Italy (March 2022) restricted(new window)the use of Russian antivirus software in the public sector.
Germany (March 2022) issued(new window)a warning against using Kaspersky software and advised users to switch to alternative cybersecurity solutions.
Netherlands (May 2018) announced(new window)plans to phase out Kaspersky software from government systems.
UK (December 2017) banned(new window)Kaspersky from national security departments.
Lithuania (December 2017) banned(new window)Kaspersky on sensitive computers in public and private companies.
Although no definitive proof has been presented against Kaspersky, concerns remain due to Russia's tight surveillance of its companies. For example, the country has strict regulations on VPNs(new window), requiring VPN providers to register with the government and log user activity.