Heaptalk, Jakarta — Kaspersky, a Russian cybersecurity firm, has announced its withdrawal from the US market as of July 22nd. This decision follows a government order banning the sale of the firm’s software due to security concerns.
“Following the final decision of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Kaspersky has announced the cessation of contracts for antivirus software and cybersecurity products in the United States before July 20, 2024,” the company stated in an email to Heaptalk (07/22).
Starting September 30, 2024, the U.S. government will also prohibit Kaspersky from providing antivirus signature updates and codebase updates to consumers and businesses in the country. Until that date, the company will fulfill its obligations under existing contracts.
Laying off fewer than 50 employees
Additionally, the country’s operational closure forces the company to lay off several employees based in the country. TechCrunch reported that fewer than 50 employees are affected by the layoffs. The company stated, “Starting July 20, 2024, Kaspersky will also gradually reduce operations and eliminate positions based in the United States.”
The U.S. Commerce Department banned Kaspersky’s product sales in June, arguing that Kaspersky’s activities pose security and privacy risks since the company is headquartered in Russia. “Russia has demonstrated its capability, and more, its intention to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize Americans’ personal information,” said Gina Raimondo, U.S. Commerce Secretary, as quoted by TechCrunch.
In response to these concerns from U.S. authorities, the company has proposed a comprehensive assessment framework that includes solution verification, database updates, and threat detection rules by independent and trusted reviewers. Therefore, Kaspersky argues that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision is based on geopolitical climate rather than an evaluation of the company’s solution integrity, resulting in users and companies in the United States not receiving the best-in-class protection.
In the meantime, Kaspersky’s information products and services, such as Kaspersky Threat Intelligence and Kaspersky Cybersecurity Training, as well as consultancy services (including SOC Consulting, Security Consulting, Ask the Analyst, and Incident Response), will still be available in the U.S. market.
